Compare towns

Methuen vs Putney vs Haverhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% rent).

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.

MeasureMethuenPutneyHaverhill
People
Population
53,475
2,622Lowest
67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7Highest
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
39.4±1.1
about the U.S. average
Methuen and Haverhill 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putney 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%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$88,326±$4k
9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,668±$49
18% above U.S.
Methuen and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061
62% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
60.2%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Haverhill and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Haverhill 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 #32 of 70 in VT #243 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Methuen High None in town Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 6 photos →

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.