Compare towns
Attleboro vs Dover vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Attleboro has the most affordable homes ($448k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Attleboro | Dover | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,762 |
2,308Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Methuen 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 5% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83Lowest 10% below MA |
— | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| 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 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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 MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #185 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | — | Methuen |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | — | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.