Compare towns

Andover vs Brooklyn 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 people working from home (30.4%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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.

MeasureAndoverBrooklynMethuen
People
Population
36,652
8,517Lowest
53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
42.9±1
10% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Brooklyn 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%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
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%
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn 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%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
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.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$113,310±$7k
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$855,600±$22kHighest
157% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$499,700±$17k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,201±$129Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,749±$91
24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,061
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.7%±7.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
30.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #68 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT #236 of 282 in MA
School district Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Brooklyn 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.