Compare towns
Worcester vs Litchfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Litchfield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
8,499Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.1±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Litchfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$8,273Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield 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% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #53 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Litchfield School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Campbell High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.