Compare towns
Lowell vs Holyoke vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($429k median).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
37,813Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Holyoke 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% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Holyoke 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Holyoke · Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Holyoke High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.