Compare towns
Lawrence 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
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Lowell has the highest household income ($79k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Lowell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Lawrence and Lowell 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 |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Lowest |
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.