Compare towns

Everett vs Worcester vs Lowell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Lowell has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureEverettWorcesterLowell
People
Population
50,045
831Lowest
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
35.6±0.8
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7kHighest
6% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$78,658±$4k
about the U.S. average
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
83% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$429,200±$11k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,625±$40
15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,499
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA — #255 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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

U.S. 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.