What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marion has the most homeowners (90.8%).

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	Marion
People
Population	88,736Highest	5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marion 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 42% below MA	$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA
	Lawrence and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$5,766Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Lawrence 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%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Marion
High school in town	Lawrence High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
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.