Compare towns
Methuen vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
9,100Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Townsend and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | North Middlesex | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | North Middlesex Regional | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
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.