Compare towns
Everett vs Lawrence vs Dover 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%).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Lawrence | Dover | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
88,736 |
5,930Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Dover and Boston 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Lawrence | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.6 |
9.8Lowest |
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.