Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs New Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
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 | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
25,612Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| New Bedford 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% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,338Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Bedford and Lowell 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% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Reading | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Reading Memorial High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.