Compare towns
Lawrence vs Sutton 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 people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
9,452Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Sutton and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% 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% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Sutton 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older 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 |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.6 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.