Question 1

Is Lawrence, MA or Waltham, MA safer?

Accepted Answer

Waltham, MA scores higher on safety. Lawrence, MA has violent crime rated High and property crime rated High. Waltham, MA has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate.

Question 2

Is Lawrence, MA or Waltham, MA more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Lawrence, MA is more walkable. Lawrence, MA has a Walk Score of 25/100 and Waltham, MA has a Walk Score of 9/100.

Question 3

Which has better schools, Lawrence, MA or Waltham, MA?

Accepted Answer

Waltham, MA has higher-rated schools. Lawrence, MA has a school rating of 7.1/10 and Waltham, MA has a rating of 7.9/10.

Question 4

Should I live in Lawrence, MA or Waltham, MA?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Lawrence, MA	Waltham, MA
Housing
Verdict	Think twice	Good for now
Median Price	N/A	$678K
Median Rent	$1K ✓ Lower rent	$2K
Median Income	$31K	$118K ✓ Higher income
Price Volatility	High	Moderate ✓ More stable
Getting Around
Walk Score	25/100 ✓ More walkable	9/100
Transit Score	20/100 ✓ Better transit	17/100
Bike Score	N/A	N/A
Commute	38 min	27 min ✓ Shorter commute
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	F	D+ ✓ Safer
Violent Crime	High	Moderate ✓ Lower risk
Property Crime	High	Moderate ✓ Lower risk
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Good ✓ Cleaner air
Community
Schools	7.1/10	7.9/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	Budget‑conscious familiesCommute to BostonPeople who prefer a suburban feel over urban amenities	commuters to Bostonfamilies seeking strong schoolsmiddle to upper income households

Lawrence, MA vs Waltham, MA

Bottom line