Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Taunton
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).
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 | Methuen | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475Lowest |
60,433 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
38.9±1.3 about the MA average |
| Methuen and Taunton 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% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Taunton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Lowest 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±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$79,283±$7k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$422,800±$9k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,324±$86Lowest 25% 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 |
$5,061Highest 16% below MA |
$4,344 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Taunton 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
13.1Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| 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.