Gloucester, MA vs Lawrence, MA

Lawrence is moderately more affordable than Gloucester, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Gloucester scores 129 compared to 118 for Lawrence, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gloucester can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gloucester is $1,395/month compared to $1,569/month in Lawrence — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gloucester has cheaper rent, Lawrence actually has lower median home values ($393,500 vs $587,800).

Median household income in Gloucester is $87,898 compared to $57,903 in Lawrence (+51.8%). While Gloucester is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gloucester spend roughly 19% of their income on rent, less than the 32.5% in Lawrence. The Gloucester ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.9°F vs 50.1°F). Gloucester receives more rainfall at 44.9" per year compared to 40.9" in Lawrence.