Compare towns
Lowell vs Oakham vs Springfield vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($429k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,639Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Lowell and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Quabbin | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.