Compare towns
Methuen vs North Andover 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
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Methuen | North Andover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
31,490 |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Andover 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | North Andover | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | North Andover High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
13.3Highest |
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.