Compare towns
Derry 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
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Derry | Methuen | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
53,475Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Lowest 10% above 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 | $7,278Highest 133% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Methuen | Salem School District |
| High school 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.