Compare towns
Andover vs Berlin 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 highest household income ($173k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Berlin | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
3,378Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Andover 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 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Berlin-Boylston | 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 |
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.