Compare towns
Lawrence vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Salem | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
30,964Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover 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% |
16.2%±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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and 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% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% 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% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Salem School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Salem High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.