Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dracut vs Methuen 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 the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).
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 | Dracut | Methuen | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
32,574Lowest |
53,475 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen 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 |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Dracut 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 |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dracut | Methuen | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.9 |
13.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.