Compare towns
Lowell vs Auburn vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
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 | Auburn | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
16,970Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell 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% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Auburn | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Auburn Senior High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.