Compare towns

Methuen vs Milton 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).
Milton has the most people working from home (29.7%).
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.

MeasureMethuenMiltonAttleboro
People
Population
53,475Highest
28,587Lowest
46,762
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
41.1±1.8Highest
about the MA average
39.8±1.4Lowest
about the MA average
Milton 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
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.9%±2
MA: 19.4%
Milton and Attleboro 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%
16.1%±1.8
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Methuen and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
71.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
34%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7k
9% above MA
$188,529±$15kHighest
81% above MA
$98,954±$6kLowest
5% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17k
11% below MA
$933,200±$31kHighest
66% above MA
$448,100±$13kLowest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Highest
about the MA average
$1,474±$281Lowest
16% 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
$9,677Highest
61% above MA
$5,366
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48%±5.7
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
66.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
31 minHighest
8% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±2.1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #236 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA #185 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Milton Attleboro
High school in town Methuen High Milton High Attleboro High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
12.4Lowest
15.3Highest
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.