Compare towns
Attleboro vs Dracut 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 people working from home (14.5%).
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Dracut | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,762 |
32,574Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Dracut 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Attleboro and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Dracut 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 |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Dracut and Methuen 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 |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut 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% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Attleboro and Methuen 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | Dracut | Methuen |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.