Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.
| Measure | Lawrence | Methuen | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| 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 |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Sutton |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.