Compare towns
Methuen vs Windham vs North Andover vs 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 most affordable homes ($500k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
North Andover has the most renters (30.2% rent).
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 | Windham | North Andover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
16,038Lowest |
31,490 |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and North Andover 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Andover and Andover 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 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9k 74% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223 57% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #98 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Windham School District | North Andover | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Windham High School | North Andover High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8Lowest |
13.3Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.