Compare towns
Lawrence vs Wakefield vs Everett vs North Andover
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 affordable homes ($415k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Wakefield | Everett | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
27,793Lowest |
50,045 |
31,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.6±2 about the MA average |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| North Andover and Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,767 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Everett | North Andover |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Everett High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
13.3 |
| 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.