Compare towns
Methuen vs Barrington 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Randolph Town has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Methuen | Barrington | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
9,489Lowest |
34,878 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.8Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Randolph Town and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$109,573±$6kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$496,400±$21k 49% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$2,103±$98Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Randolph Town and Barrington 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. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,644 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington 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% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Barrington 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.