What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preston	Lawrence
People
Population	4,821Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+16.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lawrence and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
	Lawrence and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Highest 52% above U.S.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Preston and Lawrence 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	#93 of 149 in CT	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Preston School District	Lawrence
High school in town	None in town	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.