Compare towns
Fall River vs Lawrence vs Lowell vs Mapleton
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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Lawrence | Lowell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
88,736 |
118,368Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Mapleton 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton 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% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Lowell 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Lowell | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.6 |
14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.