Compare towns
Salem vs Ogunquit vs Framingham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
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 | Salem | Ogunquit | Framingham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
1,379Lowest |
72,399Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
— | $2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #229 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Framingham High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.