Compare towns
Lowell vs Sutton vs Waterville
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Waterville 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Waterville 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lowell | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.