Compare towns
Chelsea vs Sutton vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Chelsea | Sutton | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908 |
9,452Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Sutton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,422 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #280 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Sutton | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.