Compare towns
Lowell vs Hardwick vs Tyngsborough
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 renters (56.8% rent).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Tyngsborough has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
2,684Lowest |
12,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.4±2.9 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$129,348±$18kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$552,500±$34kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,986±$404Highest 13% above MA |
| Tyngsborough 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,426Highest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Quabbin | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.