What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).

Methuen has the most expensive 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	Concord	Methuen
People
Population	44,375Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.7±1.3Highest 5% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Concord and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Concord and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,227Highest 132% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Concord 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	#89 of 120 in NH	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District	Methuen
High school in town	Concord High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.