What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).

Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	118,368Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Lowell and Douglas 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	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Douglas
High school in town	Lowell High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.