Compare towns
Lawrence vs Newfields vs Fall River vs North 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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 | Newfields | Fall River | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
2,023Lowest |
94,082Highest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Andover 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Andover and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$140,670±$9k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and North Andover 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Newfields School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | B M C Durfee High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.