Compare towns
Lowell vs Lynn vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Pelham 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 | Lynn | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
101,709 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lowell | Lynn | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lynn English High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.