Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield vs Everett vs Tewksbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Tewksbury has the highest household income ($128k).
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 | Everett | Tewksbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,314Lowest |
50,045 |
31,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
46.1±2.5 19% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Tewksbury 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Tewksbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% 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% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±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. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$128,061±$12kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$573,600±$16k 72% above U.S. |
| Everett and Tewksbury 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. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$2,310±$200Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Tewksbury and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$7,580Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Tewksbury 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Tewksbury 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #103 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Everett | Tewksbury |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Everett High | Tewksbury Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.