Compare towns
Worcester vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Wakefield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
27,793Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
10.7Lowest |
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.