Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Lawrence vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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 | Everett | Fall River | Lawrence | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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 | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3 |
13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.