What is Lawrence, MA like?

[Mrtwigg]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Were you an insurance investigator?

I was in business equipment at the time. I'd be at a customers office or shop and my car would be broken into (Not a fancy car.) like clockwork. I never had anything of value in it but I'd come out and find a busted window, opened glovebox or hatch. I'd go to the other side of town two days or a week later and have it happen all over again. Finally told my employer I wasn't going there anymore.

[seldomseen]

When I was last in Lawrence....it was a certified dump---and I pretty certain much hasn't changed. If you are looking for a safe, clean, nice place to live look elsewhere. Especially if you're accustomed to living in a city/town that populated by mid-upper income/professional families. My post isn't to bash the city, because I'm sure there are nice areas one could live but as a whole----I give Lawrence two thumbs down.

[renault]

Originally Posted by lookinforahome

Is the crime as bad as people say?

Yes.

Overall, what is it like in Lawrence?

Stay away from Lawrence.

[dorock99]

I've never been there, but I've only heard bad stories about the place.

[MerrimackValley]

Originally Posted by MassYankee

Personally, I wouldn't recommend Lawrence. It's a pretty big town, so some neighborhoods are better than others, but overall, not a top choice. The last time I went there, I went to fillup my car, and noticed the gas station was different than most - you couldn't walk inside, and gave your money to the attendant protected behind thick bulletproof glass through a steel drawer.

Andover, just to the south as someone mentioned, is a completely different kind of town - close geographically, but another world.

Lawrence is cheap, but I'd rather have a modest place in a better town, than a big house in Lawrence.

Lawrence is surrounded by town much biggger than itself. Andover, North Andover, Methuen are all at least 2-3 times the size of Lawrence.

It depends where you live in Lawrence. If you live on the edges i.e Andover, North Andover or Methuen Line you are fine and the neighborhoods are good. The trouble lies in the middle. I honestly don't know how Lawrence became a town that people fear since it's surrounded by nice towns.

Generally people who make bad commnets are people who have never lived in the town or have heard. Just to say that some of Lawrence's reputation is justified, but it's an up and coming town with all the old mills being rennovated for business and restaurants.

It is also cheap to live in Lawrence and the school system is not as good as it's surrounding neighbors. So if you have kids, Lawrence wouldn't be a good choice. Real estate taxes are cheaper in Lawrence too.

[deathtoyou]

My bestfriend has lived there for his entire life. I live in a quiet, suburban town a little bit south of lawrence. I visit the city frequently. I am a teenager, and for a white suburban kid, I understand the inner city pretty well. I grew up in Lawrence myself, and moved south at the age of ten. Once you are accustomed to a white suburban town, going to lawrence was quite the shellshock. Lawrence, like every other city in the US, has it's sections, however it is true that overall, it is horrible. I would not reccommend moving there.

[lawtownzfinest]

i think lawrence is full of hispanics tryna be ghetto its not bad at all it just some people tryna make it seem like its ny. it dont got a lot of different races they are are few but manily hispanic

[secretpink78]

Lawrence is ghetto. I grew up in Dorchester and even I wouldn't go to Lawrence.Go take a look at the city. Its nasty. I went there looking at rental property-50k for a 3-family- and I wouldn't even take a bargain like that. Where I grew up there was violence, some guns, drugs-which is bad but in Lawrence its horrific stuff that goes on. The crowd of people who live there is trash-no not all but the ghetto people are. Little kids-toddlers- are always dying, falling out windows, drowing in lakes, getting their heads smashed to death by their mother"s boyfriend- those crazy crazy crimes. Don't do it.

[elston]

My mother was an immigrant child...who grew up in Lawrence in the 1920's and 30's.....from what she told me it was a tough gritty little city even back then...boss politics, high crime and extreme poverty. She made it out, got an education and had a really decent life.....she speculated that of all the kids she grew up with.....most of the boys ended up in reform school and then probably prison.....very few made it though high school.....Her mother protected her kids as best she could....even when it meant taking them with her while she worked the third shift as a charwoman scrubbing floors in the mills. She was of the generation that felt....we may be poor but we can still be clean and decent.