Compare towns
Salem vs Methuen vs Derry
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).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Lowest |
53,475Highest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry 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%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Derry 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. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% 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±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% 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% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Methuen | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Methuen High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1 |
13.9Highest |
| 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.