Compare towns
Methuen vs Windham vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.
| Measure | Methuen | Windham | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
16,038Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Derry 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Derry 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Windham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Windham High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.