Compare towns
Lowell vs Lawrence vs Lynn
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 people working from home (10.6%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
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 | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
88,736Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
36.5±1.2Highest 9% below MA |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Lowell and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lawrence | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lawrence High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
13.6Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.