Compare towns
Lawrence vs Windsor vs Windsor Locks vs Methuen
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 most renters (71.9% rent).
Windsor has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Windsor | Windsor Locks | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
29,468 |
12,579Lowest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Windsor and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Windsor 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. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,681±$62 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.2 |
8.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.