Compare towns
Haverhill vs Westfield vs Taunton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Taunton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Haverhill | Westfield | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 67,698Highest |
40,378Lowest |
60,433 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±1.1 about the MA average |
39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Westfield and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Taunton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% MA: 47.3% |
33.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,326±$4kHighest 15% below MA |
$87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA |
| Haverhill and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $453,900±$9kHighest 19% below MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
$422,800±$9k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,668±$49Highest 5% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,324±$86 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,772Highest 20% below MA |
$4,746 21% below MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±5.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Haverhill and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #243 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Westfield | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Haverhill High | Westfield High | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.9Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| 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.