Compare towns

Dunstable vs Everett vs Lowell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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.

MeasureDunstableEverettLowell
People
Population
3,408Lowest
50,045
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Highest
4% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
35.6±0.8
11% below MA
Kids under 18
22.4%±4.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
21.7%±1.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Dunstable and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
12.6%±0.8
MA: 17.9%
Dunstable and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
30%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Lowell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$208,512±$23kHighest
101% above MA
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$78,658±$4kLowest
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30kHighest
20% above MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$429,200±$11kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637Lowest
25% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,625±$40
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,020Highest
51% above MA
$4,880
19% below MA
$4,499Lowest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dunstable and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
43.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1953
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
18% above MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
Work from home
20%±3.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Everett Lowell
High school in town None in town Everett High Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.