Compare towns
Salem vs Ogunquit vs Marlborough vs Norwood
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 renters (50.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($513k median).
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 | Marlborough | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
1,379Lowest |
41,647 |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% 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±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Norwood 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% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$513,100±$28kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,747 84% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Salem 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56% U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 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 13% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #215 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.1 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.