Compare towns
Methuen vs Windham vs Lawrence vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Windham | Lawrence | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
16,038Lowest |
88,736Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lawrence 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 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±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Windham School District | Lawrence | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Windham High School | Lawrence High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.