What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).

Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).

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	Hampstead	Methuen
People
Population	9,102Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampstead and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Methuen and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#49 of 120 in NH	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampstead School District	Methuen
High school in town	None in town	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
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.