Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lawrence, MA vs Reading, MA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lawrence needs about $99,000 in Reading to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Reading, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $71,000 in Lawrence.
A few differences
- Reading is higher on median household income ($165,912 vs $60,433).
- Lawrence is lower on cost of living index (113 vs 147).
- Lawrence is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,698/mo vs $2,514/mo).
Lawrence vs Reading · facet by facet
| Facet | Lawrence, MA | Reading, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $415,200 | $809,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,698/mo | $2,514/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.14% | 1.14% |
| State & local income tax | 5% | 5% |
| Sales tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Cost of living index | 113 | 147 |
| Groceries index | 108 | 108 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $60,433 | $165,912 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 30/100 | 30/100 |
| School rating | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lawrence, MA · Reading, MA
Questions & answers
- Is Lawrence cheaper than Reading?
- Lawrence has the lower day-to-day cost index (113 vs 147 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Reading equals $85,000 in Lawrence?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lawrence needs about $99,000 in Reading to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Reading lifestyle costs about $71,000 in Lawrence.