Compare towns
North Andover vs Lawrence vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | North Andover | Lawrence | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,490 |
88,736Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Stoneham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| North Andover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| North Andover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767Highest 30% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and North Andover 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 | #98 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Lawrence | Stoneham |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Lawrence High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
13.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.