Compare towns
Methuen vs Hooksett vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Hooksett | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
15,057Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Andover and Hooksett 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 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Hooksett School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.