Compare towns
Lawrence vs Exeter vs Fall River vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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 | Exeter | Fall River | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
16,151Lowest |
94,082Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Exeter 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 25% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Exeter High School | B M C Durfee High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.