Compare towns
Methuen vs Newfields vs 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 most affordable homes ($500k median).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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 | Newfields | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
2,023Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Andover 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Newfields and 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 50% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Newfields 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Newfields School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.