Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dover vs Fall River vs Methuen
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).
Dover has the most people working from home (34.2%).
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 | Dover | Fall River | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
5,930Lowest |
94,082Highest |
53,475 |
| 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 |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Methuen 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Dover and Methuen 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | B M C Durfee High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.3 |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.