What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).

Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	53,475Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford 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%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford 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%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Methuen 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.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Bedford School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.5Highest
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.