Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Needham
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 affordable homes ($415k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
50,045 |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lawrence 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| 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% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Needham |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.