Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Tewksbury
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 ($1340k median).
Tewksbury has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Tewksbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
5,930Lowest |
31,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
46.1±2.5Highest 15% above MA |
| Tewksbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±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%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Tewksbury and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$128,061±$12k 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$573,600±$16k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,310±$200 31% above MA |
| Dover and Tewksbury 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 |
$7,580 27% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±14.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tewksbury 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% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #103 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Tewksbury |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Tewksbury Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.