What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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	Reading
People
Population	53,475Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Reading 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 MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading 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%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Methuen 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	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Reading
High school in town	Methuen High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.