Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Rye 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
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Needham | Rye | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
32,459 |
5,611Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Methuen 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Rye School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.