What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).

Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Croydon
People
Population	1,070Highest	798Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.	43±9.1Highest 11% above U.S.
	Croydon and Lowell 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%	19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Croydon 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%	27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Croydon and Lowell 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.	$98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.	$317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.	$991±$336Highest 30% below U.S.
	Croydon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.	$3,806Highest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lowell and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Croydon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.