Compare towns
Everett vs Hardwick vs Lawrence vs Boston
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%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Hardwick | Lawrence | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
2,684Lowest |
88,736 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
| Hardwick and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Quabbin | Lawrence | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Lawrence High School | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.6 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.