Compare towns

Lawrence vs Danvers vs Fall River

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%).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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.

MeasureLawrenceDanversFall River
People
Population
88,736
28,098Lowest
94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
Kids under 18
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.8%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Lawrence and Fall River 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
42% below MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$415,200±$23k
26% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,662±$50
6% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$3,953
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
17.6%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950
14 yrs older than MA
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
26 min
11% below MA
Work from home
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #278 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA
School district Lawrence — Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Lawrence High School — B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
—
11.3Lowest
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.