Compare towns
Lawrence vs Webster vs Fall River vs Methuen
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 the most renters (71.9% rent).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Fall River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Webster | Fall River | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
2,227Lowest |
94,082Highest |
53,475 |
| 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 |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Methuen 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% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Methuen 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Lawrence 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±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen 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 25% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence 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. |
$5,061 62% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest 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% |
72.3% 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. |
1968 12 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 |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| 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% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Methuen 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Merrimack Valley School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.