What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

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.

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

Measure	Jaffrey	Methuen
People
Population	5,448Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Jaffrey and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jaffrey and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Methuen and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,196Highest 99% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Methuen and Jaffrey 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	#87 of 120 in NH	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District	Methuen
High school in town	Conant Middle High School (H)	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	21.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.