Compare towns
Methuen vs Mendon vs Upton 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).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k median).
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 | Mendon | Upton | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
6,325Lowest |
8,189 |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Andover and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Upton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and North Andover 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.