Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield 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
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,314Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| 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.