Compare towns

Attleboro vs Derry vs Methuen

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Attleboro has the most renters (33.8% rent).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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.

MeasureAttleboroDerryMethuen
People
Population
46,762
34,116Lowest
53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.8±1.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.3±1.6Highest
4% above U.S.
39.9±1.7
about the U.S. average
Derry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Attleboro and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,954±$6kLowest
23% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,100±$13k
35% above U.S.
$432,000±$17kLowest
30% above U.S.
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,590±$83
13% above U.S.
$1,547±$138Lowest
9% above U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,366
72% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
14.5%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Derry and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #185 of 282 in MA #60 of 120 in NH #236 of 282 in MA
School district Attleboro Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Methuen
High school in town Attleboro High Pinkerton Academy Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.3Highest
13.9
13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.