Compare towns
Salem vs Ogunquit vs Woburn vs Marlborough
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%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Woburn | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
1,379Lowest |
41,939 |
41,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6 about the U.S. average |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Woburn 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% |
15.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
$91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Woburn 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. |
$673,500±$17k 102% above U.S. |
$513,100±$28kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
— | $2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,354 72% above U.S. |
$5,747 84% 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% |
55.5%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Woburn 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
56% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #169 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Woburn | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Woburn High | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.