What stands out worked out from the figures below

Londonderry has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).

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	Londonderry	Methuen
People
Population	26,685Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.7±0.9Highest 10% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	20.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Methuen and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,556±$14kHighest 64% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Londonderry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$505,200±$20kHighest 52% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S.
	Londonderry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$154Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Londonderry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,069Highest 159% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±7.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Londonderry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#37 of 120 in NH	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Londonderry School District	Methuen
High school in town	Londonderry Senior High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	13.1Highest
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.