Compare towns
Worcester vs Ayer vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Lowell has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Worcester | Ayer | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
3,098Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Ayer and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Lowell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 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.