Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Tyngsborough
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 renters (56.8% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Tyngsborough 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 | Dover | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
2,308Lowest |
12,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39.4±2.9 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Lowell 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% |
15.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Tyngsborough 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$129,348±$18k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$552,500±$34k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
— | $1,986±$404Highest 13% above MA |
| Tyngsborough and Lowell 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 |
$7,426 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Tyngsborough 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.