What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most homeowners (73.2%).

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	Blackstone	Lawrence
People
Population	9,255Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
	Lawrence and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 5% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Lawrence
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	13.6
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.