Compare towns
Andover vs Barrington 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).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Andover | Barrington | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
9,489Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Andover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Barrington 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 Our Story | 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.