Compare towns
Lawrence vs Sutton vs Upton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Upton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Webster 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 42% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Upton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.