Compare towns
Lawrence vs Sutton vs Townsend 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Townsend | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
9,452 |
9,100Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 42% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Sutton | North Middlesex | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.6 |
13.1 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.