What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).

Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).

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	Westminster	Lawrence
People
Population	8,374Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Westminster and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA
	Westminster and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Lawrence
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	13.6
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.