Compare towns
Methuen vs Springfield vs North 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 homeowners (72.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Springfield | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
154,749Highest |
31,490Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
| 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Springfield | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Springfield Central High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.2Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.