Compare towns
Pelham vs Ogunquit vs Methuen 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
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Pelham | Ogunquit | Methuen | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,379Lowest |
53,475Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 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 | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Methuen | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | Methuen High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.