What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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	Westfield	Methuen
People
Population	40,378Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.9±1.8 about the MA average	39.9±1.7 about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest 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+	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest 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+	33.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA	$5,061Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Highest 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	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Highest 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	#197 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Westfield	Methuen
High school in town	Westfield High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.