What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most homeowners (58.9%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	88,736Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest 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	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% 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	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$4,150Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest 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	17.6%Highest MA: 10%	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Gardner
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.5Lowest
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.