Compare towns
Methuen vs Acton vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
North Andover has the most renters (30.2% rent).
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 | Methuen | Acton | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
24,155Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Acton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Acton-Boxborough | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.3 |
| 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.