Compare towns
Milton vs Methuen vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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 | Milton | Methuen | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Lowest |
53,475Highest |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
— | +6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Highest about the MA average |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.8Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Methuen and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Methuen | — |
| High school in town | Milton High | Methuen High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.