Compare towns
Mapleton vs Methuen vs Westfield vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Methuen | Westfield | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
53,475Highest |
40,378 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60 21% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Methuen and Mapleton 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | Westfield | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Westfield High | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.