Compare towns

Fall River vs Carver vs Lawrence

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Carver has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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.

MeasureFall RiverCarverLawrence
People
Population
94,082Highest
11,712Lowest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+1.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
45.9±3.5Highest
15% above MA
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
23%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.8Highest
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
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$91,250±$23kHighest
12% below MA
$60,433±$3k
42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$434,200±$21kHighest
23% below MA
$415,200±$23k
26% below MA
Carver 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
34% below MA
$1,827±$345Highest
4% above MA
$1,662±$50
6% below MA
Carver and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953
34% below MA
$6,455Highest
8% above MA
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55%±23.1
MA: 51.8%
60.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lawrence and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
7.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
MA: 62.5%
88.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1950
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #237 of 282 in MA #278 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Carver Lawrence
High school in town B M C Durfee High Carver Middle/High School Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
9.7Lowest
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.