Compare towns
Methuen vs Union 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
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Union | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475 |
2,663Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Union and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Methuen 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 | — | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.