What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	53,475Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.3% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend 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 MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Townsend 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%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Methuen and Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	North Middlesex
High school in town	Methuen High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.