What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).

Westport has the oldest population (median age 50.7).

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	Westport
People
Population	53,475Highest	16,484Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.2% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average	50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	16.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Westport 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 9% above MA	$96,000±$9kLowest 8% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$521,900±$38kHighest 7% below MA
	Westport and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,425±$356Lowest 19% below MA
	Methuen and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$3,719Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.9%±19.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westport 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%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Westport 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	#195 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Westport
High school in town	Methuen High	Westport Middle-High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.5Lowest
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.