Compare towns
Methuen vs Taunton 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Taunton has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Taunton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
60,433Highest |
36,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and 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% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Taunton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Taunton High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
16.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.