Compare towns
Lawrence vs Ware vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Ware | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
10,048Lowest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Ware and Methuen 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Methuen 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
31%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,061Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Methuen 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Ware | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.