Compare towns
Chelmsford vs Lowell vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Chelmsford | Lowell | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,446 |
118,368Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.9 4% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Needham and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chelmsford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,629±$8k 35% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,062±$151 17% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,047 34% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelmsford | Lowell | Needham |
| High school in town | Chelmsford High | Lowell High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.