Compare towns
Lowell vs Middleborough 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 renters (56.8% rent).
Middleborough has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Middleborough | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
24,505 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Pelham 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% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middleborough 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. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Middleborough 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lowell | Middleborough | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Middleborough High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.