Compare towns
Windham vs Methuen vs Worcester vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Methuen | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
53,475Highest |
831 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Methuen | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Methuen High | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.