Compare towns
Methuen vs Pelham vs Lawrence 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
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Pelham | Lawrence | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
14,449Lowest |
88,736Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Andover 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% 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% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Pelham School District | Lawrence | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Pelham High School | Lawrence High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.