Compare towns
North Andover vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | North Andover | Everett | Lawrence | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,490 |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| North Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767Highest 30% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest 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 | 9.4% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #98 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Everett | Lawrence | Melrose |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.