Compare towns
Salem vs Worcester vs Hooksett 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%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Worcester | Hooksett | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
207,055Highest |
15,057Lowest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% 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. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hooksett School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Salem High School | South High Community | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.