Compare towns
Salem vs Strafford 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
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Strafford | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
4,306Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Strafford 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. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Methuen 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Strafford 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 History | 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.