Compare towns
Methuen vs North Andover vs Lawrence
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 homeowners (72.3%).
North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | North Andover | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
31,490Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| 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%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | North Andover | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | North Andover High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.3 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.