Compare towns
Methuen vs Atkinson vs North 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
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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 | Methuen | Atkinson | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
7,267Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9k 74% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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 50% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and North Andover 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Timberlane Regional School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.