Compare towns
Methuen vs Townsend 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 most expensive homes ($500k median).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Attleboro has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Townsend | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
9,100Lowest |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Attleboro and Methuen 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$98,954±$6kLowest 5% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$448,100±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,366 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Attleboro and Methuen 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | North Middlesex | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Methuen High | North Middlesex Regional | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.1Lowest |
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.