Compare towns
Lawrence vs Lowell vs Ware
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%).
Lowell has the highest household income ($79k).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Lowell | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
118,368Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Lowell and Ware 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 |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Lowell 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 |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Lawrence and Lowell 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 |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Lowell | Ware |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Lowell High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.