Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Dedham | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
25,237Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lawrence 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dedham | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dedham High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.