Compare towns
Dedham vs Everett vs Fall River vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Everett | Fall River | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
11.3 |
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.