Compare towns
Andover vs Middlesex vs Acton vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Middlesex | Acton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
1,943Lowest |
24,155 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Acton-Boxborough | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.