Compare towns
Methuen vs Bourne 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 most affordable homes ($500k median).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
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.
| Measure | Methuen | Bourne | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
20,323Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover 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% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.