Compare towns
Mapleton vs Methuen vs Union vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Union | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
53,475Highest |
2,663 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Union 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.