Compare towns

Everett vs Harvard 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%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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.

MeasureEverettHarvardLowell
People
Population
50,045
6,927Lowest
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
35.6±0.8
11% below MA
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±4.5Lowest
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%
16.3%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
12.6%±0.8
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
$78,658±$4kLowest
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$429,200±$11kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$1,625±$40
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
19% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$4,499Lowest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%
MA: 10%
4.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
43.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1953
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #12 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Harvard Lowell
High school in town Everett High The Bromfield High School Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
11.0Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.