Compare towns
Salem vs Hampstead 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).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Hampstead | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
9,102Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead and Salem 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Salem 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% 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 | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Salem 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Hampstead School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.