What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelmsford	Methuen
People
Population	36,446Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
	Chelmsford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Chelmsford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chelmsford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,047Highest 34% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelmsford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelmsford	Methuen
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.