What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most homeowners (62.1%).

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	Taunton	Lawrence
People
Population	60,433Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kHighest 24% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kHighest 25% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Taunton and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Highest 28% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Taunton 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	#253 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Lawrence
High school in town	Taunton High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.