Compare towns
Lowell vs Hooksett vs Worcester vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Hooksett | Worcester | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
15,057Lowest |
207,055Highest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.6±1.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Hooksett School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6 |
14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.