Compare towns
Lawrence vs Newfields vs Sutton vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Newfields | Sutton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,452 |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Methuen 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 25% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Newfields School District | Sutton | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.