Compare towns
Whitman vs Lawrence vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the oldest population (median age 40.4).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Abington has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Whitman | Lawrence | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
88,736Highest |
17,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,724±$250 about the MA average |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Abington and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Lawrence | Abington |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.