Compare towns
Methuen vs Dracut 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k 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.
| Measure | Methuen | Dracut | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
32,574Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% 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 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Dracut | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Dracut Senior High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.