MetricMethuen, MALowell, MA
Population53,475118,368
Median Household Income$113,310$78,658
Median Rent$1,749/mo$1,625/mo
Median Home Value$499,700$429,200
Cost of Living (US = 100)108108
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income45.4%50.8%
Poverty Rate7.9%16.9%
Unemployment Rate4.6% (county)5.1%
Violent Crime Rate /100k114505
Property Crime Rate /100k5921,393
Median AQI4038
Good AQI Days /yr296299
Summer Highs81°F82°F
Winter Lows22°F18°F
Snowfall58 in/yr59 in/yr
Avg Commute27.7 min27.9 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating2.0 / 52.0 / 5
Students per Teacher12.112.7
College Degree Rate31%30%
Foreign-Born %23.9%30.5%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+2.9%+3.8%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.