Compare towns
Everett vs Lawrence vs Smithfield
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).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Lawrence | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
88,736Highest |
22,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Smithfield 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Everett | Lawrence | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.