Compare towns

Berwick vs Methuen vs Mapleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasureBerwickMethuenMapleton
People
Population
1,998
53,475Highest
1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±3.6Highest
10% above U.S.
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$39kLowest
about the U.S. average
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,300±$36k
about the U.S. average
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,041±$901
26% below U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
Methuen and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,806
22% above U.S.
$5,061Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Methuen and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±7.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick 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 #101 of 133 in ME #236 of 282 in MA —
School district — Methuen RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school 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.