What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Springfield
People
Population	53,475Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Springfield
High school in town	Methuen High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.2Lowest
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.