Compare towns
Lowell vs Needham vs Everett
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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Needham | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
32,459Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Needham | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Needham High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.