Compare towns
Fall River vs Lowell vs Worcester
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 the highest household income ($79k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| 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.