What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Lawrence	Barre
People
Population	88,736Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
	Lawrence and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Lawrence and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre 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	#278 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Quabbin
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.9Lowest
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.