Compare towns
Lowell vs Holyoke 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 highest household income ($79k).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Holyoke | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
37,813Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% 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 |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% 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 |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Holyoke · Springfield | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Holyoke High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
12.5Lowest |
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.