Compare towns
Lowell vs Worcester vs Tewksbury vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Tewksbury has the most homeowners (84.5%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Tewksbury | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
207,055Highest |
31,273Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.2%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 |
46.1±2.5Highest 15% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.8Lowest 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% |
20.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$128,061±$12kHighest 23% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$573,600±$16k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Everett and Tewksbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,310±$200Highest 31% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
| Tewksbury and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$7,580Highest 27% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±14.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Tewksbury and Everett 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #103 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Tewksbury | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | South High Community | Tewksbury Memorial High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.6 |
12.2 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.