Compare towns
Methuen vs Pepperell vs Andover
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 renters (27.7% rent).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
11,663Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Andover and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Methuen 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | North Middlesex | 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 |
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.