Compare towns
Methuen vs Salem vs Windham vs Attleboro
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Attleboro has the most renters (33.8% 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 | Windham | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.4 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$98,954±$6kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$448,100±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,590±$83Lowest 13% 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. |
$5,366 72% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Salem School District | Windham School District | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Salem High School | Windham High School | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
15.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.