Compare towns

Methuen vs Andover vs Everett

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).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureMethuenAndoverEverett
People
Population
53,475Highest
36,652Lowest
50,045
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
42.9±1Highest
7% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±1.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
16%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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+
31%
MA: 47.3%
75.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
MA: 7.9%
8.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
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
$113,310±$7k
9% above MA
$172,606±$16kHighest
66% above MA
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17kLowest
11% below MA
$855,600±$22kHighest
52% above MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91Lowest
about the MA average
$2,201±$129Highest
25% above MA
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061
16% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5
MA: 51.8%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Everett 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%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
12.2%±2.3
MA: 18.6%
30.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #236 of 282 in MA #68 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Everett
High school in town Methuen High Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
12.8
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.