Compare towns
Worcester vs Fall River 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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
94,082Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.3Lowest |
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.