Compare towns
Lawrence vs Pelham vs Acton
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).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Pelham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
14,449Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Acton and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Pelham 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 25% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Acton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Pelham School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Pelham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.