Commercial Real Estate Market in Lawrence, MA
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
113 active listings and 1,261 off-market properties in Lawrence, MA. Commercial property asks $289/SF to buy and $20.20/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Lawrence, MA spans 6.9 square miles in Essex County, Massachusetts. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Lawrence, MA runs 19.9% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Lawrence, MA runs 6% across the Northeast region in 2025, little changed from 6% in 2019. Down from a 2020 peak of 7.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Lawrence, MA runs 7.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 5.4% in 2019. Nearly 2.4x the 2021 low of 3.2%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Multifamily
Multifamily space in Lawrence, MA asks $324/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 5.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 4% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 61.4%
- Industrial 23.9%
- Open space 7.3%
- Commercial 6.6%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Two Family Residential District
Multifamily Residential District
One Family Residential District
General Industrial District
Industrial Park District
Lawrence, MA zones 4,277 acres across 13 districts. Commercial zoning covers 6.6% of zoned land, residential 61.4%, open space 7.3% and industrial 23.9%. The largest single district is Two Family Residential District at 28.6%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 30.5% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Two Family Residential District (R2)
It is intended to permit single and two family housing at a medium density to ensure a safe and healthy living environment and to ensure that other uses permitted within the district are compatible with the single and two family uses.
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Lawrence, MA has 89,121 residents in 31,929 households. Density runs 12,863 people per square mile. Median household income here is $58,545 and median gross rent $1,578 a month.
89,121
Population
31,929
Households
2.8
Avg Household Size
33
Median Age
16%
College-Educated
73%
High-School Grad
6.9 sq mi
ZIP Area
12,863
Density / Sq Mi
$58,545
Median Household Income
$35,857
Median Earnings
$1,578
Median Rent
$393,765
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $20.20/SF/Yr lease vs $289/SF buy → buying wins if held > 3.2 years.
At a 7% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Methuen | — | $25.10 |
| Andover | — | $28.99 |
| North Andover | — | $24.59 |
| Salem | — | $19.17 |
Commercial property in Lawrence, MA asks $289/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Lawrence?
Commercial property in Lawrence, MA asks an average of $289 per square foot. The 3 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $175/SF, so asking sits 65% above the achieved median. Multifamily carries the highest asking price at $324/SF.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Lawrence?
Asking lease rates in Lawrence, MA average $20.20 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Lawrence?
Buying beats leasing in Lawrence, MA if the property is held longer than 3.2 years, comparing $20.20/SF/Yr asking rent with $289/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Lawrence?
Lawrence, MA zones 4,277 acres across 13 districts, of which 6.6% is commercial and 23.9% industrial. The largest single district is Two Family Residential District at 28.6% of zoned land. It is intended to permit single and two family housing at a medium density to ensure a safe and healthy living environment and to ensure that other uses permitted within the district are compatible with the single and two family uses. Residential zoning covers 61.4% and open space 7.3%.
Where does Realmo's Lawrence market data come from?
Realmo compiles Lawrence, MA figures from 7 recent recorded sales, 70 active sale listings, 43 active lease listings, 1,261 tracked off-market properties, the current Lawrence zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 70 active for-sale and 43 active for-lease listings in Lawrence, MA. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 4,277 zoned acres across 13 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Northeast region level, retail vacancy is reported at Northeast region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Northeast region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
