What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).

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	Chittenden
People
Population	118,368Highest	1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S.
	Chittenden and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.	$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Lowell and Chittenden 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.	$5,346Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chittenden 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	—
School district	Lowell	Barstow Unified Union School District #49
High school in town	Lowell High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
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.