Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,426Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Methuen 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hampton 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Winnacunnet High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
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.