Compare towns

Attleboro vs Pawtucket vs Methuen

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%).
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureAttleboroPawtucketMethuen
People
Population
46,762Lowest
75,893Highest
53,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.8±1.4
about the U.S. average
37.1±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.9±1.7Highest
about the U.S. average
Methuen and Attleboro 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%
22.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pawtucket and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Methuen and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,954±$6k
23% above U.S.
$68,310±$4kLowest
15% below U.S.
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,100±$13k
35% above U.S.
$325,500±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,590±$83
13% above U.S.
$1,208±$39Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above 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.
$4,115Lowest
32% above U.S.
$5,061
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±5.7
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5Highest
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%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
14.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3
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 #35 of 38 in RI #236 of 282 in MA
School district Attleboro Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket Methuen
High school in town Attleboro High William E. Tolman High Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.3Highest
14.6
13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.