What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the most homeowners (86.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Lawrence	Sturbridge
People
Population	88,736Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
	Sturbridge 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	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	7.7Lowest
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.