What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).

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	Dudley	Lawrence
People
Population	11,929Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
	Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Highest 38% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%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	27 minHighest 6% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Lawrence
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.6Lowest
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.