Compare towns
Lowell vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Saugus has the most homeowners (71.5%).
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 | Saugus |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
28,773Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus and Lowell 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 | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.