Compare towns
Lowell vs Fall River vs Lynn
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Fall River | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
94,082Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn 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% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Lowell and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | B M C Durfee High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.3Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.