What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Needham	Methuen
People
Population	32,459Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
	Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 min 5% below MA	28 min 5% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Methuen
High school in town	Needham High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.1Highest
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.