Compare towns
Erving vs Fall River vs Lawrence vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Wales has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Erving | Fall River | Lawrence | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
22.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 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 | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Wales and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% 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 | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422 43% below MA |
$4,534Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.