What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	88,736Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Lawrence	Bedford School District
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.