Compare towns
Lawrence vs Putnam vs Everett vs Chelsea
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 kids (26.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Putnam | Everett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
9,292Lowest |
50,045 |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96 38% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Everett and Chelsea 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #264 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Putnam School District | Everett | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Putnam High School | Everett High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.1 |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.