Compare towns
Methuen vs Ogunquit 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 most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Methuen | Ogunquit | North Andover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
1,379Lowest |
31,490 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 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 | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 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 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.