What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Needham
People
Population	53,475Highest	32,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham 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 MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham 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%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Needham 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 9% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 min 5% below MA	28 min 5% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Needham
High school in town	Methuen High	Needham 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.