Compare towns
Gardner vs Lawrence vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most homeowners (58.9%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Gardner | Lawrence | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 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 | 13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lawrence | Everett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lawrence High School | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.