Compare towns
Lowell vs South Hooksett 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).
South Hooksett has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | South Hooksett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
5,902Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Highest 8% below U.S. |
35.2±3.6 10% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lowell and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
13.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Lowell 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. |
$1,471±$217Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #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 Our Story | 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.