Compare towns
Methuen vs Devens vs Attleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Attleboro has the most affordable homes ($448k 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 | Devens | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
1,723Lowest |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±2Highest 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+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$98,954±$6kLowest 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Devens 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 about the MA average |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,590±$83 10% below MA |
| Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$5,366 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | — | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | — | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Methuen High | — | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 15.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.