Compare towns
Lawrence vs Springfield vs North Andover
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 affordable homes ($245k median).
North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
154,749Highest |
31,490Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
39.6±2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
17%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Springfield | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Springfield Central High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.2Lowest |
13.3 |
| 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.