Compare towns
Lawrence vs Salem vs Everett vs Fall River
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 the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Salem | Everett | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
30,964Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Lawrence 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Everett 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Salem School District | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Salem High School | Everett High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.