What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most homeowners (35.3%).

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	Fall River	Lawrence
People
Population	94,082Highest	88,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Lowest 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	$60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA
	Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
	Lawrence and Fall River 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	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Highest 34% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Highest 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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fall River and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Lawrence
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.