What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).

Tyngsborough has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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	Tyngsborough
People
Population	53,475Highest	12,550Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Methuen and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Tyngsborough and Methuen 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%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Tyngsborough 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%	51.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Tyngsborough 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±$7kLowest 9% above MA	$129,348±$18kHighest 24% above MA
	Tyngsborough 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±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$552,500±$34kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average	$1,986±$404Highest 13% above MA
	Tyngsborough and Methuen 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	$7,426Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Tyngsborough 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%	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.6%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Tyngsborough and Methuen 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	#174 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough
High school in town	Methuen High	Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.2Lowest
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.