Compare towns
Methuen vs Amherst vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Methuen | Amherst | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
11,861Lowest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 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 | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Westfield |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Souhegan Coop High School | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.