Compare towns

Everett vs Worcester vs Lawrence

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Worcester has the most homeowners (42.8%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).

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.

MeasureEverettWorcesterLawrence
People
Population
50,045Lowest
207,055Highest
88,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+14.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Highest
12% below MA
33.9±0.5
15% below MA
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
Everett and Worcester 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%
19.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1
MA: 17.9%
13.3%±0.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
35.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
14.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7kHighest
18% below MA
$70,102±$2k
33% below MA
$60,433±$3kLowest
42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$374,400±$7kLowest
33% below MA
$415,200±$23k
26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,487±$38Lowest
16% below MA
$1,662±$50
6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
$4,733
21% below MA
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
54.2%±2.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.6%±3.6Highest
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
17.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
42.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1951Highest
13 yrs older than MA
1950
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
24 min
17% below MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
11.5%±1Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Worcester 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 #266 of 282 in MA #278 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Lawrence
High school in town Everett High South High Community Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
14.6Highest
13.6
On TownTapestry
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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.