Compare towns

Brookline vs Lawrence vs Everett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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.

MeasureBrooklineLawrenceEverett
People
Population
5,736Lowest
88,736Highest
50,045
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
35.2±1.5
10% below U.S.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$60,433±$3kLowest
25% below U.S.
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
$415,200±$23kLowest
25% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,662±$50Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,076±$69
47% above U.S.
Brookline and Everett 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 221% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$4,880
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
26% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #23 of 120 in NH #278 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Brookline School District Lawrence Everett
High school in town None in town Lawrence High School Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.6Highest
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.