Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Hudson 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
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).
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 | Everett | Hudson | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
25,557Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,636Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Hudson School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Alvirne High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.