Community Guide
Jump straight to the section you need, from the mills and the common to the market numbers, Kathleen's take, and the FAQ.
Lawrence
This guide covers what it is actually like to live in Lawrence, Massachusetts: a Merrimack Valley city of about 89,000 people on Boston's North Shore, built around the great textile mills and remaking itself block by block. Lawrence is the most affordable market Kathleen serves, and it is the answer for buyers who want city energy, transit access, and real history at the lowest price point on the list.
Lawrence was born as a planned industrial city in 1847 and grew around the Merrimack's waterpower; the 1912 Bread and Roses strike made its mills a landmark in American labor history. Today Campagnone Common anchors the downtown across from City Hall, Lawrence Heritage State Park tells the mill story, and studios, galleries, and restaurants keep filling the old brick blocks. The Haverhill Line runs through the city, and the commute to Boston works.
Mill City
The great Merrimack mills and the 1912 Bread and Roses story
Heritage State Park
Lawrence Heritage State Park tells the industrial history
Arts Scene
Galleries, studios, and new energy downtown
Rail Downtown
Lawrence Station on the Haverhill Line to Boston
Lawrence
The numbers that frame the city, in one glance.
| County | Essex County |
|---|---|
| Region | Merrimack Valley, Boston’s North Shore |
| Residents | 89,143 (2020 Census) |
| Distance to Boston | About 28 miles north |
| ZIP Codes | 01840-01843 |
| Settled | 1655; city since 1853 |
| Government | Mayor-Council |
| Known For | The mill city on the Merrimack, Campagnone Common, the arts |
Lawrence
Life in Lawrence is city life at a Merrimack Valley pace. Campagnone Common is the green center of downtown, the mill buildings along the river hold lofts, offices, and studios, and the neighborhoods ringing the center mix triple-deckers, older homes, and rows of classic brick. The arts scene, the festivals on the common, and the growing restaurant row give the city a younger energy every year.
Lawrence Public Schools serve the city, and the commute is the city's best kept secret: Lawrence Station on the Haverhill Line is downtown, with direct service to Boston's North Station. My commuter rail guide covers how the line works if the commute matters to you.
Lawrence
A few real Lawrence stops, from the common to the mill district, to start from.
Lawrence
Public real-estate data for Lawrence, Massachusetts, September 2026.
~$597,000
Median Sale Price (3-month)
+6.6%
Year Over Year Change (up)
~28 days
Typical Days on Market
Most competitive
Market Pace
Lawrence's public-market reading for 2026: a median sale price around $597,000 over the trailing three months, up roughly 6.6% from a year earlier, with homes typically selling in about 28 days. Lawrence remains Kathleen's most competitive market by price relief and pace together.
Figures from public real-estate data (Redfin, Zillow, September 2026) and are approximate. Not an official MAR report.
Kathleen's Take on the Lawrence Market
At a three-month median near $597,000 with homes selling in about 28 days, Lawrence is the most attainable city on the North Shore. Mill lofts, triple-deckers, and single-family neighborhoods each have their own buyer pools, so we target the search.
Lawrence prices are up about 6.6% year over year, and the market is competitive. Downtown proximity and condition are the levers; a prepared, accurately priced home here draws real competition.
I watch the year-over-year trend and downtown development together. Every new restaurant and studio that opens shifts buyer interest, and Lawrence is adding them quickly.
Thinking about making a move on the North Shore? Ask Kathleen, or book a call, and she will walk you through what is happening in Lawrence right now.
Lawrence
Lawrence questions people actually ask. Clear answers to the most common questions about living in this mill city.
Yes, for buyers who want an urban, mill-city setting on the Merrimack with the most affordable prices on Kathleen's list. Lawrence is a city of 89,143 people about 28 miles north of Boston, with Campagnone Common, Lawrence Heritage State Park, a strong arts scene, and the Haverhill Line running through town.
Lawrence is known as the mill city on the Merrimack: the site of the 1912 Bread and Roses strike, Lawrence Heritage State Park, Campagnone Common, and a growing arts and restaurant scene downtown. Incorporated in 1847 and made a city in 1853, it was built around the great textile mills of the Merrimack.
About 28 miles north of Boston, with the Haverhill Line’s Lawrence station serving North Station directly.
Yes. Lawrence Station on the MBTA Haverhill Line is right downtown.
Lawrence Public Schools serve the city.
Explore Lawrence homes for sale through Kathleen Militello, Realtor with eXp Realty, on her website, Essex County Homes for Sale.
Comparing towns? My full guides to Methuen, Andover, and Haverhill cover the neighboring Merrimack Valley towns, and the hub page for Coastal Communities links every North Shore town Kathleen serves.
Lawrence
Authoritative first-party sources for Lawrence information. These links go directly to official websites.
Next step
A conversation is the fastest way to see which Lawrence fits you: a mill loft downtown, a triple-decker near the common, or a single-family home in one of the ring neighborhoods. You do not have to decide anything before we talk.
