What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).

Worcester has the most renters (57.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Worcester
People
Population	53,475Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Methuen High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.