Compare towns
Lowell vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield 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
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below 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 | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
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.