Compare towns
Townsend vs Sutton vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.
| Measure | Townsend | Sutton | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
9,452 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$23k 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 | $6,031 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Lawrence |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.