Compare towns
Andover vs Methuen vs Ripton vs Weston
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 most affordable homes ($383k median).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Weston has the oldest population (median age 60.5).
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 | Methuen | Ripton | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
53,475Highest |
508Lowest |
685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
60.5±7Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Weston and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Weston and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$537,700±$77kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Weston and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$729Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Methuen and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,076Highest 127% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weston 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Methuen | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Methuen High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.