Compare towns
Roxbury vs Rye vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Roxbury | Rye | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 942Lowest |
5,611Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 8% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 9% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495 33% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284 37% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Rye School District | Lowell School District |
| 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.