What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lawrence	Oakham
People
Population	88,736Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Oakham 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	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
	Oakham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$4,103Highest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and Lawrence 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	—
School district	Lawrence	Quabbin
High school in town	Lawrence High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.