Compare towns
Methuen vs Needham vs Westfield
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 people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Needham | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
32,459Lowest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westfield and Needham 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% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Needham | Westfield |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Needham High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.