Compare towns
Lowell vs Middlesex vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($429k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| 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.