Living in
Methuen.

53,475people live here $113,310median household income $1,749median rent per month $499,700median home value

About

Life in Methuen

If you're considering Methuen, you're looking at a solidly middle-to-upper-class suburb with genuine diversity and reasonable proximity to Boston—your commute will average around 28 minutes depending on where you work. Housing costs are moderate for the region, with a median home price around $500,000 and median rent at $1,750, which is more accessible than closer-in Boston suburbs but still reflects Massachusetts pricing. The Latino community is significant and well-established here, giving the town a multicultural character you'll notice in local businesses, restaurants, and schools.

Methuen at a Glance

Population, income, housing and more

Median Age

39.9 yrs

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Foreign-Born

23.9%

Broadband Internet

92.2%

of households

Population Growth

+2.9%

recent change · Census Bureau

Median household income

Methuen$113,310

Massachusetts avg$103,960

US$80,734

Demographics23.9% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic

Who lives in Methuen: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin

In Methuen, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (38.7%), and 26.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.

Under 18

21.3%

of residents

65 and Older

17.2%

of residents

Households with Kids

34.3%

anyone under 18

Living Alone

22.7%

of households

Married Couples

50.9%

of households

Avg Household Size

2.83

people

Race & Ethnicity

White54.3%

White

54.3%

Hispanic or Latino33.1%

Hispanic or Latino

33.1%

Asian4.7%

Asian

4.7%

Black4.6%

Black

4.6%

Two or more races2.8%

Two or more races

2.8%

Other0.5%

Other

0.5%

Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic

Top countries of origin (foreign-born)

Dominican Republic38.7%

Dominican Republic

38.7%

Guatemala7.3%

Guatemala

7.3%

Haiti7.1%

Haiti

7.1%

Vietnam5.7%

Vietnam

5.7%

Lebanon5.3%

Lebanon

5.3%

India4.9%

India

4.9%

Brazil3.5%

Brazil

3.5%

Portugal2.9%

Portugal

2.9%

Ecuador2.4%

Ecuador

2.4%

El Salvador2.2%

El Salvador

2.2%

Languages Spoken at Home

English only60.3%

English only

60.3%

Spanish26.4%

Spanish

26.4%

Other Indo-European4.5%

Other Indo-European

4.5%

French/Haitian2.7%

French/Haitian

2.7%

Arabic2.4%

Arabic

2.4%

Vietnamese1.5%

Vietnamese

1.5%

Other0.9%

Other

0.9%

Other Asian/Pacific0.5%

Other Asian/Pacific

0.5%

Cost of Livingrent about average for MA

Rent, home values, and income in Methuen

In Methuen, home values are 11% below the MA average.

Median rent (per month)

Methuen$1,749

Massachusetts avg$1,762

US$1,413

Median home value

Methuen$499,700

Massachusetts avg$562,100

US$332,700

Rent Burdened

45.4%

spending 30%+ of income on rent

Severely Rent Burdened

29.7%

spending 50%+

Cost of Living Index

108.3

metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100

Median Property Tax

$5,061

per year, owner-occupied homes

Homeowners

72.3%

of occupied homes are owned

Typical Home Built

1968

median year built

Vacant Homes

2.6%

of housing units

Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA

Unemployment in Methuen

Unemployment in Essex County, which includes Methuen, is close to the MA average.

Unemployment rate

Methuen4.6%

Massachusetts avg4.5%

US4.3%

Methuen: Essex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average

Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend

4.1%

3.9%

3.5%

3.1%

10%

5.7%

3.7%

3.5%

4.1%

4.6%

2016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Essex County (county-wide) · Annual averages

What Methuen Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry

Education & health care26.7%

Education & health care

26.7%

Manufacturing12.7%

Manufacturing

12.7%

Professional & business services12.6%

Professional & business services

12.6%

Retail10.8%

Retail

10.8%

Construction7.4%

Construction

7.4%

Arts, hospitality & food service7.2%

Arts, hospitality & food service

7.2%

Finance & real estate5.8%

Finance & real estate

5.8%

Transportation & utilities5.2%

Transportation & utilities

5.2%

City residents, wherever they work

Commute27.7 min avg

How Methuen residents get to work, and the nearest airports

In Methuen, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.

How People Get to Work

Drive alone74.1%

Drive alone

74.1%

Carpool9.7%

Carpool

9.7%

Public transit1.1%

Public transit

1.1%

Walk1.0%

Walk

1.0%

Work from home12.2%

Work from home

12.2%

Other1.9%

Other

1.9%

Commute Time Distribution

Under 15 min24.5%

Under 15 min

24.5%

15–29 min36.5%

15–29 min

36.5%

30–44 min18.0%

30–44 min

18.0%

45–59 min10.3%

45–59 min

10.3%

60+ min10.7%

60+ min

10.7%

Nearest airports · with airline service

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Small hub686k passengers boarded in 2025
19 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
27 mi

Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.

Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average

Crime rates for 2025

Violent crime in Methuen runs 66% below the national average.

Violent Crime Rate

113.6

per 100,000 residents

Below average (329 national, 2025)

Property Crime Rate

591.7

per 100,000 residents

Below average (1,552 national, 2025)

Methuen Police Department

Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025

Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes

FEMA National Risk Index

Relatively High

95.6 / 100

Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).

Coastal flooding · Very HighIce storm · Very HighHurricane · HighLightning · HighInland flooding · High

Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025

In Essex County, which includes Methuen, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.

Most common events:

Strong WindThunderstorm WindHigh WindFloodCoastal Flood

Storm events by year

Year	Events	Top Type	Property Damage
2025	9	Thunderstorm Wind	$18,700
2024	9	High Wind	$3,500
2023	18	Heavy Snow	$21,500
2022	19	Strong Wind	$140,700
2021	30	Thunderstorm Wind	$261,900
2020	37	High Wind	$63,100
2019	26	Strong Wind	$171,950
2018	34	Strong Wind	$564,200

Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.

0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year

Essex County, county-wide

Air Quality40 median AQI — Good

Days by air quality category (2025)

Air quality in Essex County, which includes Methuen, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.

Median AQI

Good Days

296

per year

Moderate Days

per year

Unhealthy Days

per year

Essex County, county-wide

Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters

30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation

Methuen has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).

Spring (Mar–May)

57°/40°F

avg high / low

Summer (Jun–Aug)

81°/63°F

avg high / low

Fall (Sep–Nov)

62°/45°F

avg high / low

Winter (Dec–Feb)

38°/22°F

avg high / low

Annual Precipitation

49.3"

Annual Snowfall

57.8"

Hot Days/Year

days above 90°F

Freeze Days/Year

124

days below 32°F

Rainy Days/Year

131

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

Show month-by-month table ↓

Month	High	Low	Precip
Jan	35°F	20°F	4.17"
Feb	37°F	21°F	3.77"
Mar	45°F	30°F	4.68"
Apr	57°F	40°F	4.15"
May	68°F	50°F	3.81"
Jun	77°F	59°F	4.11"
Jul	83°F	65°F	3.66"
Aug	81°F	64°F	3.72"
Sep	74°F	56°F	3.90"
Oct	62°F	44°F	4.69"
Nov	51°F	35°F	3.85"
Dec	41°F	26°F	4.74"

Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5

Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Methuen

Methuen has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.

Hospitals

within city limits

Uninsured

3.3%

of residents

Avg Hospital Rating

2.0 / 5

Holy Family Hospital

Acute Care Hospitals · ER available

Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles

Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital

Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Lawrence

Whittier Pavilion

Psychiatric · 5.9 mi away · Haverhill

Not rated

Nevins Memorial Library

305 Broadway, Methuen

Central library~60 hrs/week

Cities Near Methuen

The closest cities within 60 miles

Lawrence2 mi Haverhill7 mi Lowell9 mi Wilmington12 mi Derry, NH13 mi Londonderry, NH13 mi Reading15 mi Amesbury15 mi Lynnfield15 mi Burlington15 mi Nashua, NH15 mi Wakefield16 mi

Compare side by side:Methuen vs Lawrence Methuen vs Haverhill Methuen vs Lowell Methuen vs Wilmington

Planning a move to Methuen?

Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.

Moving to Methuen →

Methuen FAQ

Is Methuen, Massachusetts affordable?⌄

Methuen's median rent is $1,749/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $113,310/year. Median home value is $499,700.

Is Methuen, Massachusetts safe?⌄

Methuen's violent crime rate was 114 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 592 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.

What is the job market like in Methuen, Massachusetts?⌄

Essex County, which includes Methuen, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.

What is the cost of living in Methuen, Massachusetts?⌄

The cost of living in Methuen is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,749/month and median household income is $113,310/year. The median home value is $499,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

How is the commute in Methuen, Massachusetts?⌄

The average commute in Methuen is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from

Living inMethuen.

Life in Methuen

Methuen at a Glance

Demographics23.9% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic

Race & Ethnicity

Top countries of origin (foreign-born)

Languages Spoken at Home

Cost of Livingrent about average for MA

Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA

What Methuen Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry

Commute27.7 min avg

How People Get to Work

Commute Time Distribution

Nearest airports · with airline service

Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average

Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025

Storm events by year

Air Quality40 median AQI — Good

Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters

Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5

Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles

Adult Health · vs. the typical US place

Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio

Colleges Near Methuen (within 15 miles)

Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 10 mi

Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas

Public Libraries in Methuen

Cities Near Methuen

Methuen FAQ

Living in
Methuen.