Compare towns
Andover vs Carlisle vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Carlisle | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
5,239Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Carlisle and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Andover 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% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle 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% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% 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%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Andover 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Carlisle | 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.