Compare towns
Lawrence vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Smithfield | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
22,233Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Smithfield | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Smithfield High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.8 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.