What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).

Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Malden
People
Population	118,368Highest	65,906Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	35.8±1Highest 11% below MA
	Malden and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	13%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Malden 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	9.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lowell and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA	$4,995Highest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Malden 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%	11.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#184 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Malden
High school in town	Lowell High	Malden High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Lowest	16.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.