What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Springfield	Lawrence
People
Population	154,749Highest	88,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±0.5Highest 16% below MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
	Springfield and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±0.9Lowest 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+	13.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA	$60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,695Highest 38% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±3.1Lowest 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	25.8%Highest MA: 10%	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	23 minHighest 21% below MA
Work from home	8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Springfield	Lawrence
High school in town	Springfield Central High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.