Compare towns
Worcester vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
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 | Orange | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
7,573Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
9.0Lowest |
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.