What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend	Lawrence
People
Population	9,100Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Townsend and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
	Lawrence and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest 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	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Lawrence
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	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.