Compare towns
Boxborough vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Boxborough | Everett | Lawrence | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Everett and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Lawrence | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.