Compare towns
Methuen vs Reading vs Milford
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% 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.
| Measure | Methuen | Reading | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
25,612Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Milford 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% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Reading and Milford 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 |
$5,869 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Reading | Milford |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Reading Memorial High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.