Compare towns
Lowell vs Hull vs Worcester vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the most people working from home (19.7%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Hull | Worcester | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
10,138Lowest |
207,055Highest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Hull | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Hull High | South High Community | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
8.8Lowest |
14.6 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.