Lawrence, MA vs Salem, MA

Lawrence is moderately more affordable than Salem, with a 11.6% lower cost of living index. Lawrence scores 118 compared to 134 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Salem can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lawrence is $1,569/month compared to $1,800/month in Salem — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lawrence is more affordable at $393,500 median vs $497,400.

Median household income in Lawrence is $57,903 compared to $85,137 in Salem (-32%). While Salem is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lawrence spend roughly 32.5% of their income on rent, more than the 25.4% in Salem. The Salem ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

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