Compare towns
Lawrence vs Springfield vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
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 | Springfield | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Lowest |
154,749Highest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,953Highest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Springfield | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Springfield Central High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.2 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.