Compare towns
Lowell vs Andover vs Worcester vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Lowell | Andover | Worcester | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
36,652Lowest |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
| Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | South High Community | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.8 |
14.6 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.