Compare towns
Townsend vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Townsend | Lawrence | Everett | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40.9±3.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±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 | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Everett and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest 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 | 8.9% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lawrence | Everett | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.