Compare towns
Ashby vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Holland has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashby | Lawrence | Everett | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$91,979±$12k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,750±$209 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,279 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lawrence | Everett | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.