Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dedham vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Dedham | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
25,237Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 42% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dedham | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dedham High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.