© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lawrence.
About
Life in Lawrence
If you're considering Lawrence, understand you're looking at an affordable Northeast city—median home values around $415,200 and rents near $1,662—that's still within reasonable commuting distance to Boston (about 30 miles). The community is predominantly Latino, with strong cultural institutions and events like Semana Hispana woven into local life, alongside older Italian traditions. Housing is tight (only 2.6% rental vacancy), so you'll need to act quickly if something catches your eye.
Lawrence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Foreign-Born
44.6%
Broadband Internet
84.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics44.6% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Lawrence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lawrence, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (77.7%), and 73.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
10.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.0%
of households
Married Couples
28.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.82
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lawrence
In Lawrence, rent runs 6% below the MA average, and home values are 26% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,422
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
28.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $509,825 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Lawrence
Unemployment in Lawrence is 2 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lawrence Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23 min avg
How Lawrence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lawrence, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Small hub686k passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 10% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lawrence runs 10% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
361
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
899.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lawrence Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Lawrence, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Lawrence, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lawrence has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.3"
Annual Snowfall
57.8"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 20°F | 4.17" |
| Feb | 37°F | 21°F | 3.77" |
| Mar | 45°F | 30°F | 4.68" |
| Apr | 57°F | 40°F | 4.15" |
| May | 68°F | 50°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 77°F | 59°F | 4.11" |
| Jul | 83°F | 65°F | 3.66" |
| Aug | 81°F | 64°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.90" |
| Oct | 62°F | 44°F | 4.69" |
| Nov | 51°F | 35°F | 3.85" |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 4.74" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lawrence
Lawrence has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Holy Family Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Methuen
Whittier Pavilion
Psychiatric · 7 mi away · Haverhill
Lowell General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Lowell
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lawrence
Lawrence's student/teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
29
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lawrence (within 15 miles)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,434 students · in-state tuition $17,664 · 68% graduate · median earnings $77,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,393 students · in-state tuition $5,448 · 30% graduate · median earnings $51,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Northern Essex Community College
8.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,685 students · in-state tuition $7,452 · 23% graduate · median earnings $49,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lawrence
Lawrence has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lawrence
Lawrence Public Library
51 Lawrence St., Lawrence
Cities Near Lawrence
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lawrence?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lawrence FAQ
Is Lawrence, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Lawrence's median rent is $1,662/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $60,433/year. Median home value is $415,200.
Is Lawrence, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Lawrence's violent crime rate was 361 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 899 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lawrence, Massachusetts?⌄
Lawrence has an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lawrence, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Lawrence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,662/month and median household income is $60,433/year. The median home value is $415,200. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lawrence, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Lawrence is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from