What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most homeowners (58.9%).

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	Gardner	Lawrence
People
Population	21,148Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
	Gardner and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 31% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Lawrence
High school in town	Gardner High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	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.