What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Amherst
People
Population	118,368Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Lowell and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Lowell	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Lowell High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.