What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).

Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Central Falls
People
Population	53,475Highest	22,701Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+16.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the U.S. average	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Central Falls 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.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Methuen	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Methuen High	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.