Compare towns
Lawrence vs Fairhaven 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).
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 | Fairhaven | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
15,903Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Fall River 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 |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Lawrence 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 |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,566 40% below MA |
$3,953Highest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven and Fall River 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Fairhaven | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Fairhaven High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.4 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.