Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Windham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Lawrence | Methuen | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
16,038Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest 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 | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Windham School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Windham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.