What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).

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	Westhampton
People
Population	88,736Highest	1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Westhampton 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	$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA
	Lawrence and Westhampton 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	$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$6,476Highest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Westhampton 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%	6.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Lawrence	Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	10.0Lowest
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.