What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

Lowell has the most kids (21.7% 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	Easthampton	Lowell
People
Population	16,086Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA
	Lowell and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 18% below MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#92 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Lowell
High school in town	Easthampton High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.