Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dedham vs Everett vs North Andover
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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 | Lawrence | Dedham | Everett | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
25,237Lowest |
50,045 |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% 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 |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±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% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest 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% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| North Andover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| 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 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,767 30% above 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% |
53%±9Lowest 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Andover and Dedham 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Dedham | Everett | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Dedham High | Everett High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
13.3 |
| 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.