What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Warwick has the most affordable homes ($355k 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	Warwick
People
Population	53,475Lowest	83,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Warwick 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 40% above U.S.	$88,708±$6kLowest 10% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$354,600±$5kLowest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,363±$76Lowest 4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,616Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.1%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Warwick 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Warwick 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	#28 of 38 in RI
School district	Methuen	Warwick
High school in town	Methuen High	Pilgrim High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.