Compare towns
Lawrence vs Woonsocket vs Lowell 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
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 | Woonsocket | Lowell | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
43,521Lowest |
118,368Highest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fall River and Woonsocket 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% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #255 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Lowell | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Woonsocket High School | Lowell High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
15.2Highest |
14.8 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.