Compare towns
Fall River vs Lowell vs Worcester 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 oldest population (median age 39.3).
Lowell has the highest household income ($79k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
88,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| 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±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| 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 34% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Lawrence |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High | South High Community | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
13.6 |
| 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.