What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Lawrence
People
Population	118,368Highest	88,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Lowell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
	Lawrence and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 25% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	16.9%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Lawrence
High school in town	Lowell High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.