Compare towns
Lowell vs Newfields vs Chelmsford
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 renters (56.8% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
2,023Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford 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% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Newfields 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 about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Newfields School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.