Compare towns
Methuen vs Milton vs Needham vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Milton | Needham | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
28,587Lowest |
32,459 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Needham and Milton 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 |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Milton | Needham | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Milton High | Needham High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.4 |
11.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.