What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

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

Measure	Everett	Lowell
People
Population	50,045Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% 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%	21.7%±1.3Lowest 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%	12.6%±0.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lowell and Everett 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%	30%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
	Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Highest 19% below MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lowell and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#264 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Lowell
High school in town	Everett High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	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.