Compare towns
Salem vs Acton vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Salem | Acton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
24,155Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Acton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Acton-Boxborough | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.