What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Chelsea has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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	Chelsea
People
Population	88,736Highest	39,908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+15.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	34.4±1.3Highest 14% below MA
	Chelsea and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	24.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9 MA: 17.9%	10.5%±1.3 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	22.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Chelsea 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 42% below MA	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Highest 43% below MA	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	59.4%±5.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%	20.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#280 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Chelsea
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Chelsea High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.