Compare towns
Millis vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Millis | Lawrence | Everett | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Everett and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Lawrence | Everett | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.1 |
— |
| 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.