Compare towns
Worcester vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Pelham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
14,449Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%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. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pelham School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Pelham High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
10.4Lowest |
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.