Compare towns
Salem vs Methuen vs Windham 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Windham | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
53,475Highest |
16,038 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Windham and Atkinson 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Windham 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% |
2% 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% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
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% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Atkinson 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Methuen | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Methuen High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.