What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

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	Mapleton
People
Population	53,475Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton 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%	18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mapleton 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%	34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Mapleton 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.	$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Methuen and Mapleton 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.	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 min 5% above U.S.	28 min 5% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Methuen and Mapleton 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	—
School district	Methuen	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Methuen High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.