What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Methuen
People
Population	30,964Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% 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.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
	Methuen and Salem 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.	$1,749±$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	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	Methuen
High school in town	Salem High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.