Compare towns

Haverhill vs Sutton vs Methuen

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureHaverhillSuttonMethuen
People
Population
67,698Highest
9,452Lowest
53,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the MA average
44.3±2.5Highest
11% above MA
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.3%±1.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
15.5%±1.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.2%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
Sutton 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%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
31%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,326±$4kLowest
15% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$113,310±$7k
9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$453,900±$9kLowest
19% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
$499,700±$17k
11% below MA
Sutton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,668±$49
5% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,749±$91Highest
about the MA average
Methuen and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,772Lowest
20% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
$5,061
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.2%±5.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.4%±6.5
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
11.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
same as MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
6% below MA
30 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
12.5%±1.5
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #243 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #236 of 282 in MA
School district Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Sutton Methuen
High school in town Haverhill High Sutton High School Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
12.6
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.