Compare towns
Andover vs Bedford 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).
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bedford | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
23,746Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford 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. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Bedford 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.