What is the cost of living in Lawrence, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lawrence has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Lawrence has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Lawrence ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Lawrence ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Lawrence, check out:
Lawrence Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lawrence. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lawrence is 111.
The Groceries index in Lawrence is 117.
The Health index in Lawrence is 143.
The Housing index in Lawrence is 119.
The Transportation index in Lawrence is 121.
The Utilities index in Lawrence is 118.
| Living Expense | Lawrence | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 143 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 114 | 100 |
Lawrence Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lawrence, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lawrence is $504,150.
The Median Rent in Lawrence is $1,662.
The Median Income in Lawrence is $60,433.
The Home Value To Income in Lawrence is 8.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lawrence is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Lawrence | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $504,150 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,662 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,433 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.3x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lawrence, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Lawrence Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lawrence Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lawrence Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lawrence Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lawrence Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lawrence | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Lawrence SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lawrence
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lawrence. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lowell, MA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Lawrence.
Haverhill, MA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Lawrence.
Arlington, MA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.4x Lawrence.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, MA | 118,368 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Haverhill, MA | 67,698 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.4x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.6x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,650 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Wakefield, MA | 27,793 | 157 | 1.2x |
| Burlington, MA | 26,274 | 165 | 1.3x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 1.3x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.7x |
| Wilmington, MA | 23,336 | 156 | 1.2x |
