Compare towns
Lawrence vs Central Falls vs Everett vs North Andover
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).
Central Falls has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
North Andover has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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.
| Measure | Lawrence | Central Falls | Everett | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
22,701Lowest |
50,045 |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9 16% below U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
39.6±2Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Central Falls 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% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,744 20% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Central Falls 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #264 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Everett | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Central Falls Sr High | Everett High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.3 |
| 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.