What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).

Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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	Lowell
People
Population	53,475Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
	Methuen and Lowell 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	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Lowell
High school in town	Methuen High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.8Highest
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.