Compare towns
Dracut 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
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Dracut | Methuen | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
53,475Highest |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Methuen 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Methuen | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
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.