Compare towns
Lowell vs Lynn vs Methuen
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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Lynn | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
101,709 |
53,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Lynn and Methuen 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 |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| Methuen and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lynn | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lynn English High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| 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.