Compare towns

Lowell vs Pomfret 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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.

MeasureLowellPomfretWorcester
People
Population
118,368
908Lowest
207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.6±0.8
8% below U.S.
53.4±12.1Highest
37% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±6Lowest
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%
29.5%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.7%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
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
$84,229±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
Pomfret and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$399,200±$144k
20% above U.S.
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
Lowell and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,170±$98Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,487±$38
5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,499Lowest
44% above U.S.
$6,722Highest
116% above U.S.
$4,733
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24%±22.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Worcester and Lowell 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 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
11% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.3%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #255 of 282 in MA — #266 of 282 in MA
School district Lowell Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town Lowell High None in town 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.