Compare towns
Lowell vs Epping vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k median).
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 | Epping | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
7,430Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Chelmsford 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Epping School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Epping High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.