Compare towns
Fall River vs Lawrence vs Springfield vs Somerset
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Somerset has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Springfield | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
88,736 |
154,749Highest |
18,298Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$418,800±$18kHighest 25% below MA |
| Somerset 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 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,977Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerset and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Springfield | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | Springfield Central High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.2 |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.