Compare towns
Lawrence vs Webster vs Fall River vs Lowell
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%).
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Webster | Fall River | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
17,748Lowest |
94,082 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Webster 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Lowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Lowell 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 6% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Lawrence and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Webster | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Bartlett High School | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.6 |
11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.