Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dudley 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%).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Dudley | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
11,929Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley 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% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,338Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%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 |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Lawrence 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dudley-Charlton Reg | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.3Highest |
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.