Compare towns
Atkinson vs Methuen vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Atkinson | Methuen | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
53,475Highest |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Auburn 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 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.