Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Andover 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 most renters (71.9% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Everett has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Methuen | Andover | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
36,652Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
— | +10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Andover 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% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen and Andover 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% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Methuen 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 |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
| Andover and Everett 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 |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.