Compare towns
Lawrence vs Merrimac vs Everett
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Everett has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Merrimac | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
6,748Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest 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 |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Everett and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Merrimac 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% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 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 |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Merrimac 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Pentucket | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.