Compare towns
Methuen vs Sutton vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
9,452Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Sutton | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
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.