Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.
| Measure | Andover | Dracut | Jay | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
32,574 |
471Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay 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% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Jay 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | — | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.