Compare towns
Worcester vs Methuen vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
West Boylston has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Worcester | Methuen | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
53,475 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Methuen and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Methuen and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$6,115Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Boylston 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Methuen | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | Methuen High | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
13.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.