Compare towns
Fall River vs Lawrence vs Newfields vs Somerset
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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Newfields | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
88,736 |
2,023Lowest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% 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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,677±$6k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$418,800±$18k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,271±$93 10% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Lawrence 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Somerset 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% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | — | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Newfields School District | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | None in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.