Compare towns
Lawrence vs Dorset vs Everett
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 most affordable homes ($415k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Dorset | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
2,092Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Lawrence 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. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Everett and Dorset 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. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | — | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.