Compare towns
Lowell vs Newfields vs Worcester vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
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 | Newfields | Worcester | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
2,023Lowest |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfields and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Everett 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. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Newfields School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.