Compare towns
Salisbury vs Methuen vs Lyndeborough
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 most expensive homes ($500k median).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Salisbury | Methuen | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
53,475Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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+ | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Lowest 5% 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 | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Methuen | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.