Compare towns
Lowell vs Randolph 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 most expensive homes ($210k median).
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Waltham has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Randolph | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
1,610Highest |
346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above 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%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waltham and Lowell 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% |
27.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Randolph 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 |
$66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$71,071±$14kHighest 5% below ME |
| Waltham and Randolph 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 |
$174,300±$21kLowest 41% below ME |
$181,300±$22k 39% below ME |
| Lowell and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$850±$567Lowest 25% below ME |
| Randolph 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 |
$2,160Highest 29% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.3%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waltham and Lowell 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.