Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
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 | Middlesex | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,943Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.