What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Lawrence
People
Population	15,903Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Fairhaven and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Highest 40% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Lawrence
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.