Compare towns
Lowell vs Needham vs Berkshire
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Berkshire has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 15% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
31.6±6.9Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Berkshire 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Berkshire 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,406±$21k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$244,600±$26k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,525±$267 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±52.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berkshire and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.