What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Standish
People
Population	118,368Highest	10,662Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	40.5±2.8Highest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Standish and Lowell 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%	36%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Standish and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 44% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Lowell	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Lowell High	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.