Compare towns
Andover vs Marblehead 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
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Marblehead | Needham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
20,413Lowest |
32,459 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% 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% |
22.3%±2.5 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest 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% |
78.3% 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% |
3.8%±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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest 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 |
$8,309 39% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Marblehead | Needham | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Marblehead High | Needham High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
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.