Compare towns
Methuen vs Winchester 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).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Winchester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
23,406Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Andover and Winchester 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% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester 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% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±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 |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Andover 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and 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 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Winchester | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Winchester High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
14.8Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.