Compare towns
Methuen vs Ossipee 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Ossipee | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
4,521Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #100 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.