Compare towns
Auburn vs Lowell vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Auburn | Lowell | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Highest 12% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.