Compare towns
Lawrence vs Mapleton vs Chelsea vs Fall River
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 the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($494k 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 | Mapleton | Chelsea | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
1,884Lowest |
39,908 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Fall River 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$493,500±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,956±$96Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,321 6% above U.S. |
$3,953Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Chelsea 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 | — | #280 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Chelsea | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Chelsea High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.