Compare towns
Westfield vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Russell
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 most renters (71.9% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Westfield | Lawrence | Everett | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 40,378 |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 21% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest 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 | 10.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Lawrence | Everett | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Lawrence High School | Everett High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
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.