Compare towns

Fall River vs Woonsocket vs Lawrence

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 population (median age 39.3).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 RiverWoonsocketLawrence
People
Population
94,082Highest
43,521Lowest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2Highest
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fall River and Woonsocket 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%
19.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lawrence and Woonsocket 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
30% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kHighest
24% below U.S.
$60,433±$3k
25% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Lawrence 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
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
18% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,662±$50Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953
27% above U.S.
$3,960Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Fall River and Lawrence 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 #37 of 38 in RI #278 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Lawrence
High school in town B M C Durfee High Woonsocket High School Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
15.2Highest
13.6
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.