Compare towns
Lawrence vs Hanover vs Everett vs Fall River
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).
Hanover has the most homeowners (84.5%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Hanover | Everett | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
14,845Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Hanover and Fall River 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% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Everett and Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.1 |
11.3 |
| 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.