States › Massachusetts › Methuen

Is Methuen, MA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,53645% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$122,205about $10,184/month · 40% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$499,70050% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $101,440 a year. That is $49 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 79 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Methuen
$2,536
Peabody
$2,331
Chicopee
$1,416
Everett
$2,839
Barnstable Town
$2,799
Weymouth Town
$2,398
Medford
$3,353

How much do households earn in Methuen?

Under $25k
10.6%
$25k–50k
15.4%
$50k–100k
25.9%
$100k–150k
27.3%
$150k+
17.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 44.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Methuen

SizeMethuenU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,163$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,006$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,381$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,523$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Methuen overall?

Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
128
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
152
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Methuen, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Methuen

🏛️ Property tax$5,061a year · 1.01% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$181a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Methuen

Commute to work27.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree31%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home72.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line7.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Methuen?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $931 a month less.

Renting
$2,536
Owning
$3,467

Owning assumes a typical $499,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $49,970 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Methuen, MA?

Renting in Methuen costs a median of about $2,536 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.

How much do I need to make to live in Methuen?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $101,440 a year, or $49 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Methuen cheap or expensive?

Methuen is rated OK: rent takes 24.9% of the typical household income of $122,205. It ranks 79th cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Methuen?

The median homeowner in Methuen pays $5,061 a year in property taxes, about 1.01% of the median home value.

Is Methuen more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Methuen?

The median home value in Methuen is $499,700, about 4.1 times the typical yearly household income.

53,475 people live in Methuen. Numbers are typical (middle) values.