Compare towns
Andover vs Salisbury vs Methuen
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).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Salisbury | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
9,281Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Triton | 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 | 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.