Compare towns
Attleboro vs Mapleton 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
Attleboro has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Westfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Mapleton | Methuen | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 46,762 |
1,884Lowest |
53,475Highest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,954±$6k 23% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83 13% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60 21% below 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 | $5,366Highest 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | Westfield |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | None in town | Methuen High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
— | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.