Compare towns
Worcester vs Boston 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%).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Boston | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055 |
666,442Highest |
118,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Worcester and Boston 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% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest 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% |
16.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Boston Latin School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
18.7Highest |
14.8 |
| 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.