Compare towns
Worcester vs Ware vs Lowell vs Millbury
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Ware | Lowell | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
6,369Lowest |
118,368 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
| Millbury and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Lowell and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Millbury 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Lowell | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | Lowell High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.