Compare towns
Fall River vs Barnstead vs Lawrence vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Fall River | Barnstead | Lawrence | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
4,994Lowest |
88,736 |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somerset and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$112,677±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$418,800±$18kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,271±$93 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 27% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Somerset 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Barnstead School District | Lawrence | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Lawrence High School | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.