Compare towns
Methuen vs Windham vs Milford
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).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
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 | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
16,038Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Milford and Methuen 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% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$96,365±$4kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$476,700±$12kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,909±$137 35% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,869 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Windham 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% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Windham School District | Milford |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Windham High School | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.