Compare towns
Methuen vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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 | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
2,239Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North 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 50% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Andover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | — | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Kearsarge Regional School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Kearsarge Regional High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
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.