Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Westfield
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%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Methuen | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
40,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westfield 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% |
33.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,746 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Westfield 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Westfield |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.