What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).

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	Pembroke
People
Population	53,475Highest	7,438Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S.
	Pembroke 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 U.S.: 22%	24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Methuen and Pembroke 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%	32.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S.
	Methuen and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Pembroke School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.