Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Plainfield vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
32,459 |
616Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,749±$91 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | — | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | — | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 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.