What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Plaistow
People
Population	53,475Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Methuen and Plaistow 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.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Methuen and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.