Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Chelmsford has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Plainfield | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,314Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford and Plainfield 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 | — | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.