Compare towns
Methuen vs Worcester vs Everett 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 most homeowners (72.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
207,055Highest |
50,045Lowest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Highest 16% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest 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 | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | South High Community | Everett High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.