Compare towns
Hudson vs Methuen vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Hudson | Methuen | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
53,475Highest |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Hudson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Methuen and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Methuen and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Methuen and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 10% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Plainville 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Methuen | Plainville |
| High school in town | — | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.