Compare towns
Methuen vs Marblehead 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).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
North Andover has the most renters (30.2% rent).
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 | Marblehead | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
20,413Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Andover and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Marblehead | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Marblehead High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.7Lowest |
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.