Compare towns
Lawrence vs Bedford vs Fall River
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 most people working from home (27%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
23,746Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Bedford 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%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% 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% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Bedford School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Bedford High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.5 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.