Compare towns
Worcester vs Lawrence 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 the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Lawrence | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
88,736Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Lowell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Lawrence and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Lawrence | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Lawrence High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
13.6Lowest |
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.