What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derry has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Derry
People
Population	53,475Highest	34,116Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.
	Derry 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%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Derry 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%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Methuen and Derry 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%	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Derry 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.	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.9Highest
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.