Compare towns
Salem vs Atkinson vs Methuen vs Windham
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).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Salem | Atkinson | Methuen | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
7,267Lowest |
53,475Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Atkinson 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. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Windham 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Atkinson 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Methuen High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.