What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).

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	Walpole
People
Population	53,475Highest	26,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average
	Walpole and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole 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%	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and Walpole 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%	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Walpole 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	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$8,523Highest 42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Walpole 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%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Methuen High	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.3Lowest
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.