What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Milford
People
Population	53,475Highest	30,431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Milford 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 MA: 47.3%	35.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA
	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±$91Lowest about the MA average	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA
	Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$5,869Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Highest MA: 10%	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	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	Milford
High school in town	Methuen High	Milford High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.9Lowest
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.