Compare towns

Everett vs Lawrence vs Woonsocket vs Boston

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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.

MeasureEverettLawrenceWoonsocketBoston
People
Population
50,045
88,736
43,521Lowest
666,442Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5
10% below U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Highest
8% below U.S.
33.3±0.2
14% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Woonsocket and Boston 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%
16.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$60,433±$3kLowest
25% below U.S.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
$97,344±$2kHighest
21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
83% above U.S.
$415,200±$23k
25% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$731,700±$10kHighest
120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69
47% above U.S.
$1,662±$50
18% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,147±$25Highest
52% above U.S.
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
56% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,456
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1950
30 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #278 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #258 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Lawrence RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston
High school in town Everett High Lawrence High School Woonsocket High School Boston Latin School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
13.6
15.2
18.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.