Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Ayer
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Everett | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
50,045 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
| Ayer and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
| Ayer 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 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Everett 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.