Compare towns
Lowell vs Worcester vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the highest household income ($79k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
207,055Highest |
94,082Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | South High Community | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.6 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.