Compare towns
Lawrence vs Webster vs Everett vs Lowell
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Webster | Everett | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
12,228Lowest |
50,045 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
37.2±2.1Highest 7% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Webster and Lowell 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% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Lowell 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% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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% |
16% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | — | Everett | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | — | Everett High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.