Compare towns

Methuen vs Atkinson vs Randolph Town

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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% rent).

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.

MeasureMethuenAtkinsonRandolph Town
People
Population
53,475Highest
7,267Lowest
34,878
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
41.3±1.8
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Randolph Town and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7k
40% above U.S.
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$109,573±$6kLowest
36% above U.S.
Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17k
50% above U.S.
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$496,400±$21kLowest
49% above U.S.
Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91
24% above U.S.
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,103±$98Highest
49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$5,644
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Randolph Town 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 #32 of 120 in NH #260 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Timberlane Regional School District Randolph
High school in town Methuen High None in town Randolph High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Lowest
—
14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.