Compare towns
Lawrence vs Lynn vs Springfield vs Andover
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 renters (71.9% rent).
Lynn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Lynn | Springfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
101,709 |
154,749Highest |
36,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield 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% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Springfield 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 |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Lynn | Springfield | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
15.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.