Compare towns
Lawrence vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Strafford | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
4,306Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% 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% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Strafford School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.