Compare towns
Andover vs Bolton 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 expensive homes ($856k median).
Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).
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 | Bolton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
5,737Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$16k 66% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Bolton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Andover 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba Regional | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.0Lowest |
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.