Compare towns

Fall River vs Devens vs Lynn 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).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 RiverDevensLynnLawrence
People
Population
94,082
1,723Lowest
101,709Highest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%
MA: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
14%±5
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Fall River and Devens 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
MA: 47.3%
21.9%
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$75,043±$3k
28% below MA
$60,433±$3k
42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$556,800±$96kHighest
about the MA average
$510,100±$23k
9% below MA
$415,200±$23k
26% below MA
Devens and Lynn 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
$1,500±$539
15% below MA
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
$1,662±$50
6% below MA
Lynn 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
$5,556Highest
7% below MA
$5,384
10% below MA
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1
MA: 51.8%
60.6%±3.6
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%
MA: 10%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
13.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%
MA: 62.5%
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1950Highest
14 yrs older than MA
1946
18 yrs older than MA
1950Highest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1
MA: 18.6%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA — #277 of 282 in MA #278 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical — Lynn Lawrence
High school in town B M C Durfee High — Lynn English High Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
15.0Highest
13.6
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.