Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Salem vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Methuen | Salem | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
30,964Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Salem School District | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Salem High School | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.