What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Lawrence
People
Population	12,011Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$3,422Highest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol and Lawrence 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	#256 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Lawrence
High school in town	Athol High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.