Compare towns
Lowell vs Mendon vs Sutton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Mendon | Sutton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
6,325Lowest |
9,452 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Mendon 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% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Mendon and Lowell 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Sutton High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.