Compare towns
Lowell vs Lawrence vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
88,736 |
36,446Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lawrence | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lawrence High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
13.6Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.