Compare towns
Methuen vs Everett vs Milford vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the highest household income ($113k).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Milford has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Methuen | Everett | Milford | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
50,045 |
30,431Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
38.9±1.8 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$96,365±$4k 7% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$476,700±$12k 15% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
| Everett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 16% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,869Highest about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
7.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Milford and Methuen 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Everett | Milford | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Everett High | Milford High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.