Compare towns
Methuen vs Hudson vs Pelham
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).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
25,557 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%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 7% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Hudson School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Alvirne High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.