Compare towns
Lowell vs Milton vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Chelmsford has the oldest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Milton | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
28,587Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA |
| Chelmsford and Milton 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chelmsford and Milton 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$140,629±$8k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$8,047 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Milton | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Milton High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.4Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.