What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

New Bedford has the most homeowners (40.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lawrence	New Bedford
People
Population	88,736Lowest	100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA	37±0.8Highest 8% below MA
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	23.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and New Bedford 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%	15.4%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	17%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA	$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA
	Lawrence and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA	$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA	$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA	$4,338Highest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest MA: 10%	20.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	40.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	25 minHighest 15% below MA
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Highest MA: 18.6%	5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lawrence and New Bedford 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	#263 of 282 in MA
School district	Lawrence	New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Lawrence High School	New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.