Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dedham vs Everett vs Lowell
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 renters (71.9% rent).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
25,237Lowest |
50,045 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% 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 |
35.6±0.8 11% 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% |
21.7%±1.3 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% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below 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 |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% 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 |
1953 11 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 |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dedham | Everett | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dedham High | Everett High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.