What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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	Charlton	Lawrence
People
Population	13,435Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Highest 8% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Charlton and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Lowest 22% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
	Lawrence and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Highest 23% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Lawrence
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	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.