Compare towns
Methuen vs Needham vs Attleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
32,459Lowest |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$98,954±$6kLowest 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,590±$83Lowest 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,366 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Needham | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Needham High | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
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.