What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Methuen	Amherst
People
Population	53,475Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Amherst and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Methuen and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.4Lowest
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.