What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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	Concord
People
Population	53,475Highest	44,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	40.7±1.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Concord and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Concord 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%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Concord 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.	$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$7,227Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Concord 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older 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%	14.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Concord 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	#89 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	13.0Lowest
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.