Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dover vs North 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Dover | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
2,308Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Andover and Dover 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% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Andover and Dover 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 42% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
— | $2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | — | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | — | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.