Compare towns
Atkinson vs Methuen vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Atkinson | Methuen | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
53,475Highest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Westfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.