Compare towns
Worcester vs Thompson 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Thompson | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,337Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson 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±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Worcester 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Thompson School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
7.9Lowest |
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.