Compare towns
Wayne vs Lowell vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Wayne | Lowell | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
118,368Highest |
6,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.6±5.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winthrop and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,470±$4k 7% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,506 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Lowell | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.