Lawrence vs Methuen
You are paying about $130k more for a 4BR in Methuen, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $130k for 17 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
Lawrence is about 5 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Methuen does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Lawrence works out roughly $2,300 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Lawrence if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Lawrence numbers →Choose Methuen if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Methuen numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Lawrence | Methuen | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS percentile | 5th | 22nd |
| Niche district rank | — | — |
| 4BR house | $500kT1 | $630kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $290k | $370k |
| Commute to Boston | 58 minT3 | 63 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~59 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $8.64T1 | $10.40T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$4,300 | ≈$6,600 |
| 3BR rent | $2,563/mo | $2,530/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
