Compare towns
Andover vs Lawrence vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Andover | Lawrence | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
88,736Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.