Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Lawrence | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
88,736 |
16,970Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest 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 | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Lawrence | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.6 |
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.