Compare towns
Methuen vs Westfield vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Westfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Westfield | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
40,378Lowest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.8Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Methuen 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% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Methuen | Westfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Westfield High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.