What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).

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	Springfield
People
Population	88,736Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	33.7±0.5Highest 16% below MA
	Springfield and Lawrence 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%	24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$3,695Highest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 21% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Springfield
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.2Lowest
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.