Compare towns
Methuen vs Mapleton vs Milford
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 highest household income ($113k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Milford has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
1,884Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Milford and Mapleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$96,365±$4k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$476,700±$12k 43% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,869Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milford 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 | — | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Milford |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.