Compare towns
Attleboro vs Methuen vs Townsend
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%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Methuen | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,762 |
53,475Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
| Townsend 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% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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 |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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±$13k 20% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83 10% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| 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 |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | Methuen | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | Methuen High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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.