Compare towns
Methuen vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($113k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Lowest |
154,749Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 | $5,061Highest 16% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Springfield | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Springfield Central High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.