What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most people working from home (20%).

Methuen has the most affordable 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	Mansfield	Methuen
People
Population	23,931Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
	Mansfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Methuen
High school in town	Mansfield High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.