Compare towns
Methuen vs Salem vs Lawrence
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 expensive homes ($500k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
30,964Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% 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. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Salem School District | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Salem High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.