Compare towns
Andover vs Atkinson vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Methuen has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Andover | Atkinson | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
7,267Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Andover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.