Compare towns
Methuen vs Needham vs Windham vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
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 | Needham | Windham | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
32,459 |
16,038Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Needham 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 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Needham | Windham School District | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Needham High | Windham High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.