Compare towns
Lawrence vs Everett vs Ware vs Lowell
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).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Ware | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
50,045 |
10,048Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lawrence 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% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Lowell 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Everett | Ware | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.