Compare towns
Methuen vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Williston | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
10,144Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and North Andover 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | North Andover |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 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.