Compare towns
Shirley vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Townsend
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 people working from home (21%).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest 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 |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 14% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest 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 |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lawrence | Everett | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.