Compare towns
Lawrence vs Westfield vs Fall River
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%).
Westfield has the most homeowners (68.6%).
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 | Westfield | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
40,378Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Westfield 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% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
33.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$87,753±$6kHighest 16% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| 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 6% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,746Highest 21% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Westfield and Fall River 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Westfield | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Westfield High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.