Essex County, Massachusetts
Methuen Homes For Sale
MA
0
Population (2020 Census)
0
Incorporated (as a Town)
$0K
Median Sale Price (Redfin, May 2026)
0
Median Days on Market (2026)
Location
Where Methuen is Located
Live Listings
Homes For Sale in Methuen, MA
Listing information is provided by the MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listings displayed may be subject to prior sale or withdrawal.
A Local's Perspective
Essex County's Second City on the Merrimack, in the Shadow of the NH Line
Methuen was first settled in 1642 as part of Haverhill and was set off and incorporated as its own town on December 8, 1725, named for Sir Paul Methuen, a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer. A meetinghouse went up the following year on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. In 1741, when the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border was fixed, most of Methuen's own north parish was cut away and became Salem, New Hampshire — leaving the city bordering the Granite State to this day. Methuen was incorporated as a city in 1917.
Industrial growth in the 1800s reshaped the town: the Methuen Cotton Mills rose at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s, and small hat and shoe factories followed, centering economic life around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire, and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy families — the Nevins, Tenneys, and Searles — left an outsized mark, funding landmarks that still stand: the 1883 Nevins Memorial Library, the Tenney Gatehouse, and the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, built to house the massive Great Organ that philanthropist Edward Francis Searles procured from Boston's old Music Hall. That mill economy also brought labor strife, including the 1922 New England Textile Strike that shut down the city's mills over an attempted wage cut.
Today Methuen functions less as a mill town and more as a larger, car-oriented residential and retail hub for the Merrimack Valley — anchored by The Loop shopping center, a short I-93 hop from Boston and an even shorter one from tax-free New Hampshire. Bentley's Real Estate doesn't yet have a dedicated market-spotlight page for Methuen specifically, but third-party data shows the market has stayed active and appreciating: Redfin puts Methuen's median sale price at $649,611 as of May 2026, up 5.6% year-over-year, with Movoto reporting a median 16 days on market in July 2026 — a notably fast-moving, competitive market for a city of its size.
At a Glance
- Population
- 53,059 (2020 Census)
- Land Area
- 22.2 sq mi
- County
- Essex, MA
- FY2026 Tax Rate
- $10.40 / $1,000 (Residential)
- Walk Score
- 38 / 100 (citywide)
Source-verified as of 2026-07-23.
Highlights
Why People Choose Methuen
Nevins Memorial Library
A grand brick-and-stained-glass library founded in 1868 by mill owner David Nevins Sr. and completed in 1883, two years after his death; listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Methuen Memorial Music Hall
Built specifically to house the massive Great Organ, originally constructed for Boston's old Music Hall and procured by philanthropist Edward Francis Searles more than a century ago.
Greycourt State Park
A 24-acre DCR-managed state park at 37 Pleasant St. built atop the partially restored ruins of the Charles H. Tenney estate, with hiking, picnicking, birdwatching, and historic ruins to explore.
The Loop
A 340,000-sq-ft open-air shopping center at 90 Pleasant Valley St., built on the former Methuen Mall site, anchored by Home Depot, Marshalls, AMC Theatres, and Stop & Shop.
Methuen Rail Trail
A walking-and-biking path on the railbanked Boston & Maine Manchester and Lawrence Railroad corridor, connecting to the Spicket River Greenway in neighboring Lawrence.
Methuen Water Works
A National Register of Historic Places-listed municipal building on Cross Street, a legacy of the city's own long-standing water system.
Neighborhoods
Methuen's Neighborhoods & Villages
Downtown Methuen
The historic civic and commercial core, blending 19th-century mill-era architecture with modern conveniences, near the Methuen Rail Trail.
East End
Spacious homes on larger lots along winding streets, with easy access to I-495, I-93, and The Loop shopping center.
West End
A mix of housing near Forest Lake and the Merrimack River, close to Hickory Hill Golf Course.
Pleasant Valley
A quieter residential neighborhood of well-maintained homes and community parks in the city's southern section.
Lifestyle
Life in Methuen
Methuen pairs its Spicket River mill-town history and Gilded Age landmarks with a modern shopping corridor and easy access to both Boston and tax-free New Hampshire.
Parks & Recreation
Parks in Methuen
Greycourt State Park
- 24 acres on the ruins of the Charles H. Tenney estate
- Hiking, picnicking, and birdwatching
- DCR-managed, satellite of Lawrence Heritage State Park
Forest Lake
- 55+ acre "great pond" bordered by the Methuen town forest
- Fishing, canoeing, and swimming
- Access managed by the Forest Lake Association
Methuen Rail Trail
- Walking and biking path on a railbanked B&M rail corridor
- Connects to the Spicket River Greenway in Lawrence
- Future rail-with-trail potential alongside commuter/freight rail
Schools
Schools Serving Methuen
Public Schools
Methuen High School
Grades 9-12
Comprehensive Grammar School
Grades K-8
Tenney Grammar School
Grades K-8
Donald P. Timony Grammar School
Grades K-8
Marsh Grammar School
Grades K-8
Early Childhood Center
Pre-K
Private Schools
Saint Monica School
Catholic, PreK-8
St. Ann's Home and School
Specialized day school for students with significant emotional, developmental, and behavioral needs
School assignments are subject to change — always verify directly with the school district before making a decision. Source (verified 2026-07-23)
HOA & Condo Communities
Methuen Associations
Methuen has a handful of established 55-plus active-adult condominium communities, both from national homebuilders.
Regency at Methuen
A 240-unit 55+ active-adult community at 26 Herrick Dr., built roughly 2011-2015, with a clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center, and tennis and bocce courts.
Regency at Emerald Pines
A 140-unit Toll Brothers 55+ community at 28 Pine Tree Dr. built starting in 2020, with a 5,800-sq-ft clubhouse, heated pool, and pickleball, tennis, and bocce courts.
New Construction
Building in Methuen
Like many Merrimack Valley communities, Methuen has adopted zoning required under the state's MBTA Communities Act, though this is a zoning-capacity requirement rather than a construction mandate.
MBTA Communities Section 3A Multi-Family Overlay
Methuen adopted a Multi-Family Overlay Zoning Ordinance on October 29, 2024 to comply with the state's MBTA Communities Act (M.G.L. c. 40A, §3A) as an 'Adjacent Community.' Confirm current build-out status before relying on any specific unit-capacity figure.
Nearby Communities
How Methuen Compares
Haverhill
Borders Methuen to the northeast; a larger mill city with its own MBTA Commuter Rail stop, which Methuen lacks.
Lawrence
Borders Methuen to the south; the historic seat of the Merrimack Valley's textile industry, with its own MBTA Commuter Rail station.
North Andover
Borders Methuen to the southeast; a smaller, largely residential suburb without Methuen's mill-era commercial core.
Salem, NH
Borders Methuen to the north across the state line; tax-free shopping and no state income tax, a short drive from Methuen center.
FAQ
Methuen Real Estate — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Methuen?
Methuen's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.40 per $1,000 of assessed value ($20.08 for commercial), per the City of Methuen's Assessing Department.
How do I commute to Boston from Methuen?
Methuen has no MBTA Commuter Rail stop of its own — the nearest is in neighboring Lawrence (about 2 miles / 7 minutes away) on the Haverhill Line. Driving to Boston is roughly 29 miles via I-93, typically about 30-45+ minutes depending on traffic.
Are there flood risks to consider?
Methuen sits along both the Merrimack and Spicket Rivers. First Street Foundation publishes property- and neighborhood-level flood maps for Methuen, but we were not able to independently verify a single citywide flood-risk percentage — check the specific parcel via First Street's Flood Factor tool or FEMA flood maps before buying near the water.
Is Methuen walkable?
Methuen is a car-dependent city overall, with a citywide Walk Score of 38/100 per Walk Score's Massachusetts city rankings. Downtown Methuen is more walkable than most of the city, ranking as its second-most-walkable neighborhood.
What's the current home price range in Methuen?
As of mid-2026, third-party data puts Methuen's median sale price at roughly $650K (Redfin: $649,611 in May 2026, up 5.6% year-over-year), with Movoto reporting a median list price near $639K and homes selling in a median of just 16 days in July 2026 — a fast-moving market.
Who provides water and sewer service?
Water and sewer utilities are municipally operated by the City of Methuen, which has run its own water system for well over a century (the historic Methuen Water Works on Cross St. is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places).
What schools would my kids attend?
Methuen Public Schools operates an Early Childhood Center, four K-8 grammar schools (Comprehensive, Tenney, Timony, and Marsh), and Methuen High School. Private options include the Catholic PreK-8 Saint Monica School and the specialized St. Ann's Home and School.
Ready to Explore Methuen?
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