Compare towns
Attleboro vs Needham vs Needham 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).
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 | Needham | Needham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 46,762 |
32,459Lowest |
32,459Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,366 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #185 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | — | Needham | Methuen |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | — | Needham High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.