Compare towns
Lawrence vs Mapleton vs Methuen vs New Bedford
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
New Bedford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Mapleton | Methuen | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
1,884Lowest |
53,475 |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and New 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
17% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest 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±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,137±$26 20% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Methuen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Methuen | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Methuen High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.