Compare towns

Methuen vs Attleboro vs 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Attleboro has the most affordable homes ($448k median).
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.

MeasureMethuenAttleboroAndover
People
Population
53,475Highest
46,762
36,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
39.8±1.4Lowest
about the MA average
42.9±1Highest
7% above MA
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.9%±2
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Andover and Attleboro 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%
15.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16%±1.3
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
34%
MA: 47.3%
75.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.1%±0.8Highest
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
$98,954±$6kLowest
5% below MA
$172,606±$16kHighest
66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$499,700±$17k
11% below MA
$448,100±$13kLowest
20% below MA
$855,600±$22kHighest
52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$91
about the MA average
$1,590±$83Lowest
10% below MA
$2,201±$129Highest
25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061Lowest
16% below MA
$5,366
10% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
48%±5.7
MA: 51.8%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Methuen and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
8.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
66.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
31 minHighest
5% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±2.1
MA: 18.6%
30.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #236 of 282 in MA #185 of 282 in MA #68 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Attleboro Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Methuen High Attleboro High Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
15.3Highest
12.8Lowest
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.