Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
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 | Ayer | Fall River | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Fall River and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.