Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Revere
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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (34.2%).
Revere has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.2%).
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 | Revere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
5,930Lowest |
60,012 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
39.2±1.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Revere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$86,969±$10k 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$597,400±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,076±$95 18% above MA |
| Dover and Revere 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 |
$5,605 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Revere 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #241 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Revere |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Revere High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.