Compare towns
Worcester vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Salem | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
44,795Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester 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% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Salem and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Salem | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Salem High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
9.8Lowest |
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.