Signals
Lawrence
New Haven
Opportunity
28 · Bottom 5%
vs22 · Bottom 2%
Growth
35 · Bottom 24%
vs40 · Bottom 32%
Climate
63 · Bottom 25%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
34 · Bottom 2%
vs47 · Bottom 9%
Access
92 · Top 50%
vs77 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
60 · Bottom 49%
vs41 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Lawrence | New Haven | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,736 | 134,349 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,433 | $56,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,249 | $36,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 12,805/sq mi | 7,188/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $415,200 | $287,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,662 | $1,488 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 28.1% | 28.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -4.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 38.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 23.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 12 | 274 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 9.1% | -21.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.9" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.6 | 31.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 35 | 50 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.79 | 13.00 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lawrence
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.
New Haven
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Lawrence, MA · New Haven, CT · How this is calculated: methodology