Compare towns
Lawrence vs Lowell vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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 | Lawrence | Lowell | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Lowest |
118,368Highest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
36.5±1.2Highest 9% below MA |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Lowell and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Lowell | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Lowell High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
14.8 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.