Compare towns
Lawrence vs Merrimac vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).
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 | Merrimac | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
6,748Lowest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Merrimac and Methuen 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 |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Merrimac and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| Methuen and Lawrence 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 |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Merrimac 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Merrimac 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Pentucket | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.