Compare towns
Methuen vs Windham vs Plaistow
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 most renters (27.7% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
16,038 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Windham and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% 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% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Windham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.