Compare towns
Lawrence vs Halifax vs Everett vs Methuen
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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Halifax | Everett | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
7,748Lowest |
50,045 |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Halifax and Methuen 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% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Methuen 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% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Everett 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 |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Halifax and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Everett and Halifax 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Methuen 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Halifax | Everett | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Everett High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.