Compare towns
Lawrence vs Woolwich vs North Andover
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%).
Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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 | Woolwich | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
3,158Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
— | $2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Andover and Woolwich 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RSU 01 - LKRSU | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.