Compare towns
Lowell vs Oakham 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).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Oakham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,639Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
41.6±1.9 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Chelmsford 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Quabbin | 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 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.