Methuen Town, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 53,043 Household income: $103,270 Rent: $1,610

Overview

Total population

53,043

Rent

$1,610

Year built

1968

Household income

$103,270

Poverty rate

8.2%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2023 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

53,043

Adults over 25

37,377

Total households

18,816

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$103,270

Poverty rate

8.2%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Rent over 30% of income

51.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,610

Year built

1968

Households that rent

27.3%

Households that own

72.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

59.4%

Black

5.5%

Asian

3.7%

Two or more races

12%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

32.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

67.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

89.2%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

10.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.2%

High school graduate or GED

30.1%

Some college or associate degree

11.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Methuen Town, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Methuen Town, MA

Total population53,043

Rent$1,610

Year built1968

Household income$103,270

Per capita incomeN/A

Poverty rate8.2%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Massachusetts State

Total population6,992,395

Rent$1,687

Year built1963

Household income$101,341

Per capita incomeN/A

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate3.5%

United States

Total population332,387,540

Rent$1,348

Year built1980

Household income$78,538

Per capita incomeN/A

Poverty rate12.4%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Metric	CityMethuen Town, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	53,043	6,992,395	332,387,540
Rent	$1,610	$1,687	$1,348
Year built	1968	1963	1980
Household income	$103,270	$101,341	$78,538
Per capita income	N/A	N/A	N/A
Poverty rate	8.2%	10%	12.4%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	3.5%	3.6%

View the complete comparison of Methuen Town, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Methuen Town, MA

Methuen Town is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Methuen Town, the typical monthly rent is $1,610 and the typical household income is $103,270. Rent here is similar to Massachusetts and higher than the U.S., and household income is similar to Massachusetts and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 8.2%, which is lower than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 27.3% of households. About 51.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is higher than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Methuen Town, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Methuen Town, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Methuen Town, MA compares in Massachusetts (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,610	10 / 25	from lower rent	$1,085 – $2,804
Household income	$103,270	7 / 25	from higher income	$51,339 – $184,989
Poverty rate	8.2%	4 / 25	from lower poverty	4.7% – 25.3%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	16 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 8.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2023).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Methuen Town, MA

Rent

In rent comparisons, Methuen Town comes in 10th out of 25 large places. Across Massachusetts, rents vary from $1,085 in New Bedford, MA to $2,804 in Brookline, MA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Methuen Town comes in 7th among 25 major places. Across Massachusetts, income levels vary from $51,339 in Springfield, MA to $184,989 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Methuen Town ranks 4th out of 25 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.7% in Newton, MA to 25.3% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Methuen Town ranks 16th out of 25 significant areas. Across Massachusetts, unemployment varies from 2.9% in Somerville, MA to 8.7% in Lawrence, MA.

💰 Rent in Methuen Town, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,610 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Methuen Town, MA

Annual Household Income: $103,270

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Methuen Town, MA

Estimated Rate: 8.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Methuen Town, MA

In Methuen Town, MA, households that rent: 5,138 (27.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	5,138	27.3%
Owner-Occupied	13,678	72.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Methuen Town, MA

In Methuen Town, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,668 (51.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,668	51.9%
Other renter households	2,470	48.1%
Total renter households	5,138	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Methuen Town, MA

Less than High School: 10,531 people (28.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,245 people (30.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,199 people (11.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 11,402 people (30.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 37,377

📊 Unemployment Rate in Methuen Town, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Edina, MN53,125 Normal, IL52,908 Twin Falls, ID53,219 Winter Haven, FL52,846 Elyria, OH52,833 Minnetonka, MN53,256 Oak Park, IL53,315 Grand Island, NE52,761 Galveston, TX53,348 Novato, CA52,689

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.