Compare towns
Lowell vs Chilmark vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Chilmark | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,578Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Chilmark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Up-Island Regional | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| 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.