Compare towns
Methuen vs Upton vs Andover vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
8,189Lowest |
36,652 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±0.8 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below 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±$17k 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Blackstone Valley | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.