What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the most people working from home (19.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hull	Methuen
People
Population	10,138Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
	Hull and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,089Highest about the MA average	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hull and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Hull	Methuen
High school in town	Hull High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.