Compare towns
Lawrence vs Methuen vs Upton 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).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Upton | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
53,475 |
8,189Lowest |
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 |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Upton 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% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Upton 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 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 |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Everett and Upton 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 |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%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 |
1981Highest 17 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 |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Methuen | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Blackstone Valley | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.