Compare towns
Clinton vs Fall River vs Lawrence vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k median).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Clinton | Fall River | Lawrence | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.