Compare towns

Lawrence vs Everett vs Dover

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Dover has the most people working from home (34.2%).

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.

MeasureLawrenceEverettDover
People
Population
88,736Highest
50,045
5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.7%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
Kids under 18
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2
MA: 19.4%
Lawrence and Dover 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%±1.1
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Everett 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
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$415,200±$23kLowest
26% below MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,662±$50Lowest
6% below MA
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
Dover 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
$4,880
19% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
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%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950
14 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #278 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA
School district Lawrence Everett Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town Lawrence High School Everett High Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
12.1
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.