Compare towns
Methuen vs Pelham vs Westfield vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Pelham | Westfield | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
14,449Lowest |
40,378 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Pelham 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 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #197 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Pelham School District | Westfield | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Pelham High School | Westfield High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.