Compare towns
Salem vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Townsend | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
9,100Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Townsend 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% 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±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% 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 | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Methuen 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | North Middlesex | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | North Middlesex Regional | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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.