Compare towns
Belgrade vs Methuen vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Belgrade | Methuen | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
53,475Highest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Orrington and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #236 of 282 in MA | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Methuen | Orrington Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.