Compare towns
Lowell vs Everett vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
50,045 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Everett 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lowell | Everett | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Everett High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.