Compare towns
Lowell vs Stow vs Lynn
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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Stow | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
7,165Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Nashoba | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Lowest |
— | 15.0Highest |
| 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.