Compare towns
Andover vs Hampton Beach vs Needham 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
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Hampton Beach | Needham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
2,605Lowest |
32,459 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Needham 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
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.