What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Bourne
People
Population	53,475Highest	20,323Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Bourne 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 9% above MA	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
	Methuen and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bourne 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	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Methuen High	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.