What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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	Belgrade
People
Population	53,475Highest	3,351Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S.
	Belgrade and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belgrade 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%	23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belgrade 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%	49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Belgrade 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.	$88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.	$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Belgrade 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%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belgrade and Methuen 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	#71 of 133 in ME
School district	Methuen	RSU 18
High school in town	Methuen High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
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.