Compare towns
Lawrence vs Windham vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Windham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
16,038Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea 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 25% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Windham School District | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Windham High School | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.