Compare towns
North Andover vs Stoneham vs Lawrence
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).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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.
| Measure | North Andover | Stoneham | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,490 |
23,355Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2 about the MA average |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below 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% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below 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 |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below 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 |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8% MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Stoneham | Lawrence |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Stoneham High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
10.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.