Compare towns
Andover vs Athol vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Andover | Athol | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
12,011Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Andover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Athol-Royalston | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Athol High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.