Compare towns
Lawrence vs North Reading vs Fall River
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%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | North Reading | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
15,765Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| North Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | North Reading | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | North Reading High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.