Compare towns
Methuen vs Merrimac vs Westfield
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 most people working from home (12.2%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Merrimac | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
6,748Lowest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Methuen and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Merrimac and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
| Merrimac 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 |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
| Methuen and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Westfield 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Pentucket | Westfield |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.