Compare towns
Lowell vs Mendon vs Everett vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chelmsford has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Everett | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,113Lowest |
50,045 |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Chelmsford 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford 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. |
$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Everett 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Everett | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Everett High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.