Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Lancaster vs New Bedford
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 most renters (71.9% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Everett | Lancaster | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
50,045 |
8,606Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and New Bedford 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and New Bedford 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5 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±$3k 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Lawrence 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Nashoba | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.