Compare towns
Methuen vs Merrimac vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Methuen | Merrimac | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
6,748Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
41%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Merrimac and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Merrimac and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Merrimac 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Pentucket | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.