Compare towns
Lawrence vs Sullivan vs Everett vs Methuen
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).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).
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 | Sullivan | Everett | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
687Lowest |
50,045 |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Sullivan 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest 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. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Sullivan 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. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,099Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Methuen and Everett 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | — | Everett | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | — | Everett High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
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.