Compare towns
Lowell vs Hingham vs Worcester vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Chelmsford has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Hingham | Worcester | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
24,283Lowest |
207,055Highest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.6±1.9 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$140,629±$8k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,062±$151 17% above MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$8,047 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Hingham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Hingham High | South High Community | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.9Lowest |
14.6 |
14.0 |
| 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.