Compare towns
Lawrence vs Maynard vs Stow vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
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 | Maynard | Stow | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Andover 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Stow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Stow 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Andover 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Maynard | Nashoba | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Maynard High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.