What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has the most homeowners (37.2%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Woonsocket	Lawrence
People
Population	43,521Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Highest 8% below U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,059±$5kHighest 24% below U.S.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,960Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lawrence and Woonsocket 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	#37 of 38 in RI	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Lawrence
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.