Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Worcester
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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
19,188Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Worcester 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% |
15.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | RSU 14 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windham High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.