What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most people working from home (10.8%).

Burlington has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Burlington
People
Population	378Highest	328Lowest
Median age	55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME	52.5±22.8Lowest 17% above ME
	Lowell and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.1%±9.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Burlington and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	24.7%±7.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Lowell and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest ME: 36.2%	10.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lowell and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,833±$31kHighest 32% below ME	$48,750±$14kLowest 35% below ME
	Lowell and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME	$99,700±$21kLowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,478Highest 51% below ME	$582Lowest 81% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 24% above ME	39 minHighest 60% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lowell and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.