Compare towns
Lawrence vs Bedford vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Lawrence | Bedford | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
23,746Lowest |
53,475 |
| 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. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Lawrence 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. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Bedford School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Bedford High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.5 |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.