Compare towns
Everett vs Stow 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%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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.
| Measure | Everett | Stow | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
7,165Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Everett 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,625±$40Lowest 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% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Nashoba | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | 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.