Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Fall River
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 youngest population (median age 35.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
16,038Lowest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fall River and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fall River 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Windham School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windham High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.8 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.