Compare towns
Lawrence vs Mendon vs Fall River vs Lowell
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%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
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 | Mendon | Fall River | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
6,325Lowest |
94,082 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Mendon 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Mendon and Lawrence 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Mendon-Upton | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | 11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.