Compare towns
Andover vs Methuen vs Ripton vs Windham
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 people working from home (29.6%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Methuen | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
53,475Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
— | — |
| 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% 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% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | 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.