Compare towns
Methuen vs Salem vs Sullivan
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Salem | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
30,964 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan and Salem 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kLowest 32% 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below 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±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% below 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. |
$5,099 63% 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% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 History | 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.