Compare towns
Methuen vs Andover vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% 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.
| Measure | Methuen | Andover | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
616Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$96,365±$4kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$476,700±$12k 43% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,869Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | — | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | — | Milford |
| High school in town | Methuen High | — | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.