Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Everett vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Chelmsford has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Everett | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
594Lowest |
50,045 |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Windham and Chelmsford 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Chelmsford 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
— | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford 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. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Lowell 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford and Windham 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Everett | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | Everett High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.