Compare towns
Andover vs Hingham vs Needham vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Hingham | Needham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
24,283Lowest |
32,459 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Needham 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 |
$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% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%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 |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Needham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham | — | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham High | — | 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 |
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.