Compare towns
Methuen vs Northbridge vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Randolph Town has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Northbridge | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
16,458Lowest |
34,878 |
| 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 |
41.3±1.8 3% above MA |
| Northbridge and Randolph Town 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2Lowest 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Randolph Town and Methuen 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 9% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$109,573±$6kLowest 5% 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 |
$496,400±$21k 12% below MA |
| Methuen and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,103±$98Highest 19% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,644Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Randolph Town 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 | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Northbridge | Randolph |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Northbridge High | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.8Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.