Compare towns

Lawrence vs Everett 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 people working from home (10.5%).
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.

MeasureLawrenceEverettNew Bedford
People
Population
88,736
50,045Lowest
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.7%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
37±0.8Highest
8% below MA
New Bedford and Everett 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%
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%
15.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%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%
4.1%±0.5Lowest
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±$7kHighest
18% below MA
$56,981±$3kLowest
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$415,200±$23k
26% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$357,300±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,662±$50
6% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,137±$26Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
$4,338
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±3.2Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
14.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
20.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
40.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Highest
14 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
25 min
15% below MA
Work from home
6.8%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Highest
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 #263 of 282 in MA
School district Lawrence Everett New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Lawrence High School Everett High New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
12.1Lowest
13.5
On TownTapestry
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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.