Compare towns
Townsend vs Hudson vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Methuen has the most expensive 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 | Townsend | Hudson | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
25,557 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hudson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,636Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hudson School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Alvirne High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.