What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Westfield
People
Population	53,475Highest	40,378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7 about the MA average	39.9±1.8 about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	33.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 16% below MA	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Westfield 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Methuen and Westfield 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	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	Westfield
High school in town	Methuen High	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.