What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Gardner has the most homeowners (58.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Gardner
People
Population	118,368Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
	Lowell and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 25% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Gardner 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%	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner and Lowell 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Gardner
High school in town	Lowell High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.