What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k 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	Coventry	Methuen
People
Population	35,907Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Coventry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,946±$8kLowest 28% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Methuen and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,099Highest 63% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±11.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Coventry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Methuen and Coventry 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	#24 of 38 in RI	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Coventry	Methuen
High school in town	Coventry High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	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.