Compare towns
Methuen vs Rye vs North 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 affordable homes ($500k median).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
North Andover has the most renters (30.2% 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 | Rye | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
5,611Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Rye School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| 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.