Compare towns
Salem vs Everett 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Everett | Methuen | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
50,045 |
53,475Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% 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 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 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+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above 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. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,061 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% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 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. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Everett | Methuen | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Everett High | Methuen High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
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.