Compare towns
Everett vs Cambridge vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Cambridge has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Everett | Cambridge | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Lowest |
118,796Highest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
| Lowell and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$130,748±$4kHighest 26% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,802 20% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
12.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Cambridge | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Cambridge Rindge and Latin | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.3Lowest |
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.