Andover vs Lawrence
You are paying about $500k more for a 4BR in Andover, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $500k for two tiers of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Lawrence works out roughly $8,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Andover if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Andover numbers →Choose Lawrence if you want the lower price.
All Lawrence numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Andover | Lawrence | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS percentile | 90th | 5th |
| Niche district rank | 24th of 236 | — |
| 4BR house | $1MT3 | $500kT1 |
| 2BR condo | $560k | $290k |
| Commute to Boston | 54 minT3 | 58 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~46 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~59 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $12.31T2 | $8.64T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$12,300 | ≈$4,300 |
| 3BR rent | $3,310/mo | $2,563/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
