Compare towns
Lowell vs Upton vs Everett vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 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 | Upton | Everett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
8,189Lowest |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Everett and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Blackstone Valley | Everett High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.