Compare towns
Shirley vs Lawrence vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most homeowners (77.4%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Shirley | Lawrence | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Highest 14% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #239 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lawrence | Everett |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.