Compare towns
Atkinson vs Methuen 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
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Atkinson | Methuen | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
53,475Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.