Compare towns
Methuen vs Salem vs Andover
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 youngest population (median age 39.9).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Salem | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
30,964Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Methuen 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Salem School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Salem High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.