Compare towns
Townsend vs Sutton vs Lawrence vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
9,452 |
88,736Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lawrence 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 51% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Lawrence | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.