Compare towns
Methuen vs Salem vs Underhill
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
30,964 |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Methuen 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%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Underhill 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% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% 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. |
$446,000±$24kLowest 34% 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. |
$6,697 115% 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% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%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. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Salem 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 | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Methuen | Salem School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.