Compare towns
Mapleton 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Methuen | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
53,475Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kLowest 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 | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below 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 | $610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 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 | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 History | 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.