Compare towns

Fall River vs Templeton 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 housing (typical home built 1945).
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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 RiverTempletonLawrence
People
Population
94,082Highest
8,252Lowest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
40.3±5.1Highest
about the MA average
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
Templeton 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
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lawrence and Templeton 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%
14.7%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Fall River and Templeton 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
MA: 47.3%
26.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Lawrence and Fall River 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
45% below MA
$101,154±$15kHighest
about the MA average
$60,433±$3k
42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$358,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$415,200±$23kHighest
26% below MA
Lawrence and Fall River 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
$1,207±$353
31% below MA
$1,662±$50Highest
6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953
34% below MA
$4,554Highest
24% below MA
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
44.7%±26.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
10.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
MA: 62.5%
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1950
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
28 minHighest
5% below MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
16.9%±5.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #244 of 282 in MA #278 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Narragansett Lawrence
High school in town B M C Durfee High Narragansett Regional High Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
12.2
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.