What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

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	Boxford
People
Population	53,475Highest	8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford 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 MA: 17.9%	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boxford 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 MA: 47.3%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Boxford 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 9% above MA	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford 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 MA: 10%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Methuen High	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.