What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	Rochester
People
Population	53,475Highest	33,144Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Rochester 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%	19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen and Rochester 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest 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 minHighest 5% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Methuen and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Rochester School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.