Compare towns
Lawrence vs Mapleton vs North Andover 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | North Andover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
1,884Lowest |
31,490 |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Mapleton 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% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Andover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9k 74% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,767 149% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 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 | — | #98 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Andover | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | North Andover High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.3 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.