Compare towns

Andover vs Everett 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 people working from home (30.4%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureAndoverEverettMethuen
People
Population
36,652Lowest
50,045
53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
42.9±1Highest
7% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
Kids under 18
23.6%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
21.3%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Andover and Everett 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%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
31%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Lowest
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±$16kHighest
66% above MA
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$113,310±$7k
9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$855,600±$22kHighest
52% above MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$499,700±$17kLowest
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,201±$129Highest
25% above MA
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$1,749±$91Lowest
about the MA average
Andover and Everett 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
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$5,061
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.4%±6.5
MA: 51.8%
Everett 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%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
30.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.2%±2.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #68 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #236 of 282 in MA
School district Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Everett Methuen
High school in town Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Everett High Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.1Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.