Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dover vs New Bedford
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%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Dover | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
2,308Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and New Bedford 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% |
15.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and New Bedford 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 MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
— | $1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | — | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | — | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.5Lowest |
| 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.