What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).

Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	Holbrook	Methuen
People
Population	11,380Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
	Holbrook and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holbrook and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
	Holbrook and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kLowest 17% below MA	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA
	Methuen and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest about the MA average	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Holbrook	Methuen
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.