Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Exeter vs North Andover
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 renters (71.9% rent).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Exeter | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
50,045 |
16,151Lowest |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Exeter 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Andover and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Exeter High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.