Compare towns
Methuen vs Woonsocket 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Woonsocket | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
43,521 |
36,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Woonsocket High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
15.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.