Compare towns
Lowell vs Unity vs Worcester vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
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 | Unity | Worcester | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,375Lowest |
207,055Highest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Worcester 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Unity School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | 14.6Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.