Compare towns
Mapleton vs Methuen vs Pelham 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
53,475Highest |
14,449 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
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% |
22%±2.7 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest 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% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham 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±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Methuen 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±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% 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%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% 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. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.