Compare towns
Lowell vs Lynn vs Ripton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Lynn | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
101,709 |
508Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
— | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Worcester 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lynn | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lynn English High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.