Compare towns
Needham vs Methuen vs Needham
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 | Needham | Methuen | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
53,475Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
— | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 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 | 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.