What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).

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	Lexington
People
Population	88,736Highest	34,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	25.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Lexington 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer 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%	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#2 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Lexington
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.4Lowest
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.