Compare towns
Salem vs Methuen vs Atkinson
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).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Methuen | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
53,475Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Atkinson 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. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Methuen | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| 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.