Compare towns
Lowell vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k median).
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 | Pelham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
14,449Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Lowell 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham 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. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lowell 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Pelham School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Pelham High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.