Compare towns
Webster vs Lawrence vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
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 | Webster | Lawrence | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
88,736Highest |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Highest 33% below MA |
$3,422 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Webster and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lawrence | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
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.