Compare towns
Fall River vs Springfield vs Everett 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Springfield | Everett | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
154,749Highest |
50,045Lowest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest 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%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 34% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Everett 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Everett | Lawrence |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Springfield Central High | Everett High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.2 |
12.1 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.