Compare towns
Lawrence vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
2,227Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Webster 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%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Webster 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% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Merrimack Valley 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 History | 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.