Compare towns
Lawrence vs Chilmark vs 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 the most renters (71.9% rent).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Chilmark | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
1,578Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Chilmark and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Chilmark 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Up-Island Regional | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.