Compare towns
Chelmsford vs Suffield vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Suffield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,446 |
15,702Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford and Suffield 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 | #79 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelmsford | Suffield School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Chelmsford High | Suffield High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.