Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Lynn vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Reading | Lynn | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
25,612Lowest |
101,709 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Reading and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Lynn | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Lynn English High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | 15.0Highest |
14.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.