Compare towns

Fall River vs Chichester vs Lawrence

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 most affordable homes ($396k median).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 RiverChichesterLawrence
People
Population
94,082Highest
2,745Lowest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
43±3.3Highest
11% above U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
Chichester and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Chichester 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%
17.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chichester and Fall River 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%
37.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
30% below U.S.
$109,297±$13kHighest
35% above U.S.
$60,433±$3k
25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kLowest
19% above U.S.
$409,300±$26k
23% above U.S.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
Lawrence and Chichester 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.
$2,055±$275Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,662±$50
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953
27% above U.S.
$7,189Highest
130% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.6%±34.4
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lawrence and Chichester 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%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #75 of 120 in NH #278 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Chichester School District Lawrence
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.