Compare towns
Methuen vs Sutton vs Lawrence vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Sutton | Lawrence | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
9,452Lowest |
88,736Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Sutton and 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 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±$7k 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Sutton | Lawrence | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.