Compare towns
Lowell vs Canton vs Westfield
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 affordable homes ($183k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Westfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Canton | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
24,748Highest |
536Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44±19.9Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$72,500±$30k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$301,400±$47k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 33% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,388 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lowell School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.