Compare towns
Salem vs Dracut 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 people working from home (16.3%).
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Dracut | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Lowest |
32,574 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Dracut 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% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen 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. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Methuen 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Dracut | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.