Compare towns
Lawrence vs Atkinson vs Everett vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Atkinson has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% 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.
| Measure | Lawrence | Atkinson | Everett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
7,267Lowest |
50,045 |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
| Everett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96 38% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Timberlane Regional School District | Everett | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Everett High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.