Compare towns
Lowell vs Middlesex vs Everett vs New Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
New Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Everett | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,943Lowest |
50,045 |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Bedford and Everett 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,137±$26Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,338Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and New Bedford 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Everett | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Everett High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.