What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Salem
People
Population	53,475Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest 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%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 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	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 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	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 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	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest 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	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	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.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest 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	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

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.