Compare towns
Andover vs Methuen vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Methuen | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
53,475Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Methuen 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 MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Andover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Sutton 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen | Sutton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.