Compare towns
Lowell vs Needham vs Everett vs Tyngsborough
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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Tyngsborough has the shortest commute (24 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 | Needham | Everett | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
32,459 |
50,045 |
12,550Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% 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 |
39.4±2.9 about the MA average |
| Needham and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.8% 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% |
8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$129,348±$18k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$552,500±$34k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,986±$404 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,426 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Everett 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% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6 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 | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Needham | Everett | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Needham High | Everett High | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9 |
12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.