What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	North Andover
People
Population	53,475Highest	31,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average	39.6±2Lowest about the MA average
	Methuen and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	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%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Methuen and North 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 MA: 47.3%	61.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA	$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA	$7,767Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Methuen	North Andover
High school in town	Methuen High	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.