Compare towns
Lawrence vs Sidney vs Fall River 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%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Sidney | Fall River | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
4,790Lowest |
94,082Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney 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% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,953 27% 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% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #262 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RSU 18 | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.