Merrimack Valley · Town guide
Living in Lawrence, MA.
A dense mill city on the Merrimack River with a commuter rail station, one of the lowest residential tax rates in the region, and a large supply of multifamily housing.
Lawrence at a glance
- Median single-family
- $535,000
- ▼ 2.7% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $325,000
- ▲ 6.6% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 32
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 100.3%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $8.64
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 89,332
- 2024 Census estimate, +0.2% since 2020
- To Boston
- 24 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Commuter rail
Lawrence market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $535,000 | $325,000 |
| Change vs. last year | ▼ 2.7% | ▲ 6.6% |
| Sales closed | 67 | 31 |
| Median days on market | 32 | 45 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 100.3% | 98.2% |
| For sale at month end | 9 | 9 |
| Months of supply | 0.9 | 2.3 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Lawrence Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Lawrence compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $535,000 ▼ 2.7% | $325,000 | 32 | $8.64 |
| North Andover | $1,005,000 ▲ 10.6% | $412,000 | 34 | $11.24 |
| Methuen | $600,000 ▼ 3.2% | $418,000 | 33 | $10.40 |
| Andover | $1,210,000 ▲ 13.0% | $525,000 | 31 | $12.31 |
| Haverhill | $615,000 ▲ 2.1% | $423,250 | 33 | $10.61 |
| Tewksbury | $760,000 ▲ 2.4% | $528,500 | 30 | $12.56 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Lawrence.
What is it like to live in Lawrence?
Lawrence is a compact, dense city built around the Merrimack River and its great mill buildings. It has a strong Latino community, a lively commercial core, and a commuter rail station.
Its single-family median is among the lowest of the towns I cover, and much of its housing is multifamily.
What are Lawrence's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown & the mills | Mill buildings, some converted to lofts and offices | City living |
| Tower Hill | Residential neighborhood with older homes | Single-families and views |
| Prospect Hill | Older homes on the hill above downtown | Character homes |
| South Lawrence | Across the river, more suburban streets | More space |
What does housing look like in Lawrence?
Lawrence is dominated by two- and three-families and multi-unit buildings, with single-families in neighborhoods like Tower Hill and South Lawrence.
How is the commute from Lawrence to Boston?
Lawrence has a commuter rail station on the Haverhill Line into North Station. I-495 runs through the city.
Where do people spend time in Lawrence?
- The Merrimack River and the Spicket River paths
- Den Rock Park
- The mill district
What should buyers and sellers know about Lawrence?
- Lawrence is very block by block.
- Older multifamilies need thorough inspections, especially porches and electrical.
- Lawrence's FY2026 residential tax rate is among the lowest in the region.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Lawrence Public Schools).
Questions people actually ask.
Does Lawrence have a train?
Yes. Lawrence has a commuter rail station on the Haverhill Line into North Station.
What kind of housing is in Lawrence?
Mostly two- and three-families and multi-unit buildings, with single-families in some neighborhoods.
MBTA stations in Lawrence
- Commuter rail: Lawrence (Haverhill Line)
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Lawrence home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Lawrence's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Lawrence
Three ways to start.
Buy in Lawrence
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Lawrence
A price grounded in Lawrence sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Lawrence
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Lawrence.
What is the median home price in Lawrence, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Lawrence was $535,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $550,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $325,000. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Lawrence?
Single-family homes that sold in Lawrence during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 32 days on market and sold for 100.3% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Lawrence, MA?
Lawrence's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $8.64 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $4,620 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Lawrence to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Lawrence: commuter rail: Lawrence (Haverhill Line). Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
MLS listings
Lawrence homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Lawrence, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Lawrence search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Lawrence?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Lawrence specifically.
More Merrimack Valley towns
- Haverhill
- Lowell
- Methuen
- Andover
- North Andover
- Dracut
- Chelmsford
- Tewksbury
- Billerica
- Groveland
- Amesbury
- Newburyport
- All towns
Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.