Compare towns
Methuen vs Pepperell vs Townsend
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).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Methuen and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Methuen and Townsend 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 |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Methuen 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.