Compare towns
Lowell vs Everett vs Chelmsford vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Worcester 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 | Everett | Chelmsford | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
50,045 |
36,446Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Everett and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$2,062±$151 17% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Everett and Chelmsford 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Everett | Chelmsford | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Everett High | Chelmsford High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.0 |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.