Compare towns
Lawrence vs Bedford vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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.
| Measure | Lawrence | Bedford | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
23,746Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Bedford 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Bedford School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Bedford High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.5 |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.