Compare towns
Andover vs Lee 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
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Needham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
5,719Lowest |
32,459 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest 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% |
44.1% 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% |
5%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| 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 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lee | Needham | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lee Middle/High School | Needham High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.2Lowest |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.