Compare towns
Lowell vs Worcester 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
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Worcester | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
831Lowest |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford 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% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Chelmsford 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 | — | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.