Compare towns
Lowell vs Sutton vs New Bedford
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 expensive homes ($429k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
New Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sutton | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
2,239Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Bedford and Lowell 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,137±$26Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,338Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Kearsarge Regional School District | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Kearsarge Regional High School | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.