What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	53,475Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Methuen High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	7.7Lowest
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.