Compare towns
Methuen vs Bourne vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
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.
| Measure | Methuen | Bourne | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
20,323Lowest |
34,878 |
| 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 |
41.3±1.8 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 9% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$109,573±$6k 5% above MA |
| Methuen and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$496,400±$21kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,103±$98Highest 19% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,644Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Randolph Town and Bourne 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 | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Randolph |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
9.8Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.