What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).

Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	88,736Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	33.9±0.5Highest 15% below MA
	Worcester and Lawrence 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%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA	$70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$4,733Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	24 minHighest 17% below MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#278 of 282 in MA	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Lawrence High School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	14.6Highest
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.