Compare towns
Lowell vs Worcester vs Fall River vs Everett
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 most homeowners (43.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Worcester | Fall River | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
207,055Highest |
94,082 |
50,045Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest 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 |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% 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% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Everett 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 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 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 | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | South High Community | B M C Durfee High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.6 |
11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.