Compare towns

Methuen vs Mapleton vs Attleboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Attleboro has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

MeasureMethuenMapletonAttleboro
People
Population
53,475Highest
1,884Lowest
46,762
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the U.S. average
41.8±6Highest
7% above U.S.
39.8±1.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Mapleton and Methuen 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%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7kHighest
40% above U.S.
$91,731±$25kLowest
14% above U.S.
$98,954±$6k
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17kHighest
50% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$448,100±$13k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,590±$83
13% above U.S.
Methuen and Attleboro 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.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,366Highest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±5.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #236 of 282 in MA — #185 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen RSU 79/MSAD 01 Attleboro
High school in town Methuen High None in town Attleboro High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Lowest
—
15.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.