Compare towns
Lawrence vs Bow 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%).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Bow | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
8,335Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Bow 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Andover 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. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% 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% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Bow School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Bow High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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.