Living in Lawrence, MA offers a unique blend of historical significance, cultural diversity, and urban convenience. Located just 30 miles north of Boston, Lawrence is known for its rich industrial history, beautiful historic buildings, and strong sense of community. The city’s location along the Merrimack River has played a key role in its development, making it a hub of economic activity in the region.
Lawrence’s dining scene is diverse, reflecting its multicultural population, with a range of options from traditional American fare to Latin American cuisine. The city’s downtown area is undergoing revitalization, featuring new shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions that highlight its vibrant community. The annual Lawrence Feast of the Three Saints is a local favorite, celebrating the city’s Italian-American heritage with food, music, and family-friendly activities.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Lawrence provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. The city’s parks, including the popular Lawrence Heritage State Park, offer scenic spots for picnicking, walking, and enjoying the views of the Merrimack River. The nearby Merrimack Valley provides additional opportunities for hiking, fishing, and exploring the natural beauty of Massachusetts.
Lawrence is also known for its strong sense of community and commitment to cultural diversity. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual Hispanic Week celebration and the Bread & Roses Heritage Festival, which bring residents together to celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage. The city’s proximity to Boston means that residents can easily access the amenities of a major city, including theaters, museums, and professional sports venues.
For those considering a move to Massachusetts, Lawrence offers a perfect blend of historical charm, cultural richness, and urban convenience. Whether you're drawn by its cultural events, scenic parks, or proximity to Boston, living in Lawrence, MA provides a fulfilling and dynamic lifestyle.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Cost Of Living
Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Located in the state of Massachusetts, Lawrence is a medium-sized city with a population of 82,025 inhabitants. In Lawrence, there are 11,838 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. More than a quarter of the residents of Lawrence identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 76% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. With an average age of 32 years old, Lawrence could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 39% of the Lawrence population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Lawrence your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 23 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Lawrence is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before relocating to any new city in Massachusetts, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Lawrence and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Lawrence to Massachusetts and the national average.
Using data and statistics Lawrence has received a livability score of 70/100. This score is ranked in the 75th percentile when compared to all other cities. On a less positive note, Lawrence does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (D), cost of living (F), education (D) and employment (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Assuming that Lawrence meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Lawrence. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Lawrence are simply unattainable. The median home price for Lawrence homes is $503,531, which is 19.4% lower than the Massachusetts average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lawrence, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 7.6, which is 28.8% higher than the Massachusetts average.
| Statistic | Lawrence | Massachusetts | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 70.3% | 71.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 15.6% | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.7% | 9.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.6% | 4.9% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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