Compare towns
Lawrence vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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 | Strafford | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
4,306Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Strafford School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.