Compare towns
Methuen vs Dover 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Dover | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
5,930Lowest |
34,878 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±1.8 3% above MA |
| Dover and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Randolph Town and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$109,573±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$496,400±$21kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,103±$98 19% above MA |
| Dover and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,644 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Randolph |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | 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.