What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).

Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% 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	Haverhill
People
Population	53,475Lowest	67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.3% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	39.4±1.1Lowest about the MA average
	Methuen and Haverhill 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%	21.3%±1.5 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Haverhill 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%	32.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$88,326±$4kLowest 15% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$453,900±$9kLowest 19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,668±$49Lowest 5% below MA
	Methuen and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$4,772Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.2%±5.3Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	11.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Methuen High	Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.