Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Lawrence vs Malden
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%).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Everett | Fall River | Lawrence | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,995Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
11.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6 |
16.1Highest |
| 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.