Compare towns
Lawrence vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
30,964Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest 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. |
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% |
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% |
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% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Salem 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. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% 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% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest 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% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% 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% |
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 | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Salem School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Salem High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.