Compare towns
Lawrence vs Webster 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster | Everett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
2,227Lowest |
50,045 |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest 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% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,880 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% |
53.6%±71Lowest 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% |
9.6%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% |
96%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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. |
31 min 16% above 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% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Merrimack Valley School District | Everett | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Everett High | Chelsea 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.