Compare towns
Salem vs Salisbury 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
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Salisbury | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
1,609Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Salem 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% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salisbury 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. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Methuen 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. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 |
| School district | Salem School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Methuen High |
| 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.