Compare towns
Westfield vs Lawrence vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Montgomery has the most homeowners (96.3%).
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 | Westfield | Lawrence | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
88,736Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746Highest 21% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Montgomery and Westfield 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Lawrence | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
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.