Compare towns
Peabody vs Ogunquit vs Attleboro vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Attleboro has the most affordable homes ($448k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Peabody | Ogunquit | Attleboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
1,379Lowest |
46,762 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.8±1.4 about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Attleboro and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$98,954±$6k 23% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$448,100±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,590±$83Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,366 72% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #228 of 282 in MA | — | #185 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | — | Attleboro | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — | Attleboro High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 15.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.