Compare towns

Haverhill vs Epping vs Methuen

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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.

MeasureHaverhillEppingMethuen
People
Population
67,698Highest
7,430Lowest
53,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.1±3.5Highest
16% above U.S.
39.9±1.7
about the U.S. average
Epping and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Epping and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Methuen and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% above U.S.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
Methuen and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
$436,900±$35kLowest
31% above U.S.
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,668±$49Lowest
18% above U.S.
$1,742±$576
23% above U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
Methuen and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$5,061
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.2%±5.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
12.5%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #243 of 282 in MA #77 of 120 in NH #236 of 282 in MA
School district Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Epping School District Methuen
High school in town Haverhill High Epping High School Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
9.3Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.