What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Andover	Lawrence
People
Population	31,490Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Highest 30% above MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	North Andover	Lawrence
High school in town	North Andover High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.