Compare towns
Mapleton vs Methuen vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Mapleton | Methuen | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
53,475Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Methuen and Mapleton 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.