Compare towns
Fall River vs Lowell vs Westport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Westport has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Fall River | Lowell | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082 |
118,368Highest |
16,484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$96,000±$9kHighest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$521,900±$38kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,425±$356 19% below MA |
| Lowell and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 34% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$3,719Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westport and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Westport 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell | Westport |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High | Westport Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.