Compare towns
Methuen vs Bourne vs North 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).
North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
20,323Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Andover and Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
9.8Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.