Compare towns
Methuen vs Upton 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 most affordable homes ($500k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Upton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
8,189Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Upton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Blackstone Valley | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.