Compare towns
Lowell vs Lancaster 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
8,606Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Nashoba | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.