Compare towns
Athol vs Fall River vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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.
| Measure | Athol | Fall River | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Athol and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,953Highest 34% below MA |
$3,422 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 8% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Fall River 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Athol High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.