Compare towns

Fall River vs Sidney vs Lawrence vs Lynn

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).
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).

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.

MeasureFall RiverSidneyLawrenceLynn
People
Population
94,082
4,790Lowest
88,736
101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
43±5.5Highest
11% above U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
36.5±1.2
6% below U.S.
Sidney 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%
23.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
24.1%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Lynn 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%
18.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.7%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Sidney 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%
33.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$83,488±$10kHighest
3% above U.S.
$60,433±$3k
25% below U.S.
$75,043±$3k
7% below U.S.
Sidney and Lynn 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.
$336,200±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
$415,200±$23k
25% above U.S.
$510,100±$23kHighest
53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
$1,662±$50
18% above U.S.
$1,722±$60Highest
22% above U.S.
Lynn 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.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,422
10% above U.S.
$5,384Highest
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±4.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lawrence and Lynn 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
48.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
1946
34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
Sidney and Lynn 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 #15 of 133 in ME #278 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical RSU 18 Lawrence Lynn
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town Lawrence High School Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
13.6
15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.