Compare towns
Lawrence vs Windsor Locks 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 most kids (26.3% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($494k 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 Locks | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
12,579Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +15.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 25% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Chelsea 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$493,500±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,956±$96Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,688Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest 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% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Windsor Locks School District | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Windsor Locks High School | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.