Compare towns
Lowell vs Limerick vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Limerick has the highest household income ($101k).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($181k 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 | Limerick | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
3,400Highest |
346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
| Waltham and Lowell 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% |
18.7%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Limerick and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham and Lowell 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% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limerick and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$71,071±$14k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$181,300±$22kLowest 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$850±$567Lowest 25% below ME |
| Limerick and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478 51% below ME |
$2,520Highest 17% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 24% above ME |
38 min 53% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.