Town Hall · Lowell

Lowell, MA town hall & government

Lowell spent $803.7 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,075 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Lowell's government.

Town budget

Where Lowell's money goes

Spent
$803.7 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$7,075
typical Massachusetts cities: $6,897
Long-term debt
$410.1 million
$3,610 per resident
Schools
$470.2 million59%
Police
$41.2 million5%
Fire
$31.8 million4%
Sewer & trash
$29.8 million4%
Water & other utilities
$16 million2%
Paid to other governments
$14.8 million2%
Administration & buildings
$14.6 million2%
Roads & transportation
$13.1 million2%
Interest on debt
$10.3 million1%
Parks & libraries
$6.5 million1%
Health & welfare
$5.6 million1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$5.3 million1%
Housing & development
$4.6 million1%
Other
$139.9 million17%

Lowell runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Massachusetts cities.

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 52%
  • Property taxes 27%
  • Fees & charges 8%
  • From the federal government 6%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Utility sales 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Lowell

Full-time staff
3,461
319 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$89,100
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
232
and 211 full-time firefighters
Schools
2,443 full-time163 part
Police
304 full-time27 part
Fire
218 full-time
Administration & buildings
83 full-time22 part
Health & welfare
62 full-time22 part
Parks & libraries
47 full-time23 part
Sewer & trash
45 full-time2 part
Water & other utilities
37 full-time
Housing & development
29 full-time13 part
Roads & transportation
31 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
15 full-time2 part
Other
147 full-time44 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Lowell School District

Lowell's K–12 school district. The schools are run by Lowell, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$23,881
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
14,273
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal

  • Local 5%
  • State 83%
  • Federal 12%

Of the $23,881 per pupil, $15,174 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Lowell pay

Typical tax bill
$4,499
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
1.05%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$429,200
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Lowell's government

🏛️ Official websitelowellma.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Lowell →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Lowell

Lowell is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Lori Trahan. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Lowell's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Lowell

Massachusetts · MA
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