Compare towns
Methuen vs Hudson vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Hudson | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
25,557 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Bow 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% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hudson 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. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Bow 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Hudson School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Alvirne High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.