Compare towns
Lawrence vs Bourne vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 61.2).
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Bourne | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
1,806Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Bourne and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
— | $2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.3% MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Andover and Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | — | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | — | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.