What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	53,475Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Methuen and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9% MA: 10%	7.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Northbridge
High school in town	Methuen High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.