Compare towns
Andover vs Methuen vs Westfield
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 people working from home (30.4%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Methuen | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Lowest |
53,475Highest |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest 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% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westfield 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% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Westfield 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen | Westfield |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.