Compare towns
Methuen vs Fall River vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
94,082Highest |
36,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest 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%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Fall River and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 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%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | B M C Durfee High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.