What stands out worked out from the figures below

Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Croydon	Lowell
People
Population	798Lowest	1,070Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±9.1Highest 11% above U.S.	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Croydon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Croydon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S.	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S.	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$991±$336Highest 30% below U.S.	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.
	Croydon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Highest 22% above U.S.	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lowell and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Croydon School District	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.