Compare towns
Andover vs Windham vs Methuen vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Windham | Methuen | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
16,038Lowest |
53,475Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham School District | Methuen | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham High School | Methuen High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.