Compare towns
Lowell vs Pelham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Pelham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
14,449Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Pelham School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Pelham High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.