Compare towns
Tyngsborough vs Reading vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyngsborough has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Tyngsborough | Reading | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,550Lowest |
25,612 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Reading and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,348±$18k 24% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,500±$34k about the MA average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$404 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Reading and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,426 24% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #174 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough | Reading | Lowell |
| High school in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical | Reading Memorial High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.