Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Chelsea
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 homeowners (37.2%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
50,045 |
39,908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5Highest 12% below MA |
34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea 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%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Everett and Lawrence 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest 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±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea 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 |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 43% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1941 23 yrs older 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%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Chelsea 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.