Compare towns
Everett vs Lawrence vs Westhampton 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%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Lawrence | Westhampton | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
88,736Highest |
1,552Lowest |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
| Malden and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 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 |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,304±$229Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,995 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 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% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Malden and Westhampton 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 | — | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Lawrence | Hampshire · Westhampton | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Hampshire Regional High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.6 |
10.0Lowest |
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.