What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).

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	Enfield
People
Population	53,475Highest	4,475Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Enfield 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.	$95,474±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Methuen and Enfield 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.	$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,181±$563Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Methuen and Enfield 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.	$6,203Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest 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 minHighest 5% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Methuen and Enfield 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	#5 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	Methuen High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
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.