Compare towns
North Andover vs Ogunquit vs Melrose vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Melrose has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Melrose | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,490 |
1,379Lowest |
29,650 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
— | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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 | — | #62 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | — | Melrose | Lawrence |
| High school in town | North Andover High | — | Melrose High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | 12.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.