Compare towns
Attleboro vs Westfield 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%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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.
| Measure | Attleboro | Westfield | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,762 |
40,378Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Westfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,954±$6k 5% below MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13k 20% below MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83 10% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| 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 10% below MA |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Attleboro | Westfield | Methuen |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | Westfield High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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.