Compare towns
Andover vs Everett vs Methuen vs Windham
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%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
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 | Everett | Methuen | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
50,045 |
53,475Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Andover 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 157% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Windham 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Methuen | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett High | Methuen High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.