Population 118,391 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lowell
Household size in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.73 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lowell average 2.73 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.64, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.8 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.1 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.4 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.4, Lowell is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.0, as it has nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only nine are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Lowell: 17.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lowell
Renters in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.6% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 56.8% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Lowell: 56.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Just over three in ten owners (31.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Lowell: just 5.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Vacancy has fallen 4.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Lowell is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $913 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $981 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,158 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,628 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$715 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Lowell runs $1,628 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the wider Boston area ($2,051). Rent has climbed $715 a month since 2006–10, up 78%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lowell
Bachelor's degrees in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Lowell than nationally: 29.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.0 points, mirroring the country. Lowell has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Massachusetts cities.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.3% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.2% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.8% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.6% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Lowell never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, in line with the national trend. Only 11 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lowell
| Period | Lowell | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lowell is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Boston area overall (4.9%). Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lowell compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | 2.73 | 35.4 | 17.8% | 56.8% | 5.3% | 1953 | $1,628 | 29.2% | 82.6% | 5.8% |
| Dracut | 2.71 | 43.0 | 9.6% | 20.1% | 5.3% | 1974 | $1,827 | 36.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| North Chelmsford | 2.73 | 43.1 | 12.9% | 18.0% | 3.1% | 1972 | $1,930 | 47.8% | 92.8% | 2.7% |
| Chelmsford | 2.75 | 42.8 | 5.9% | 17.7% | 6.7% | 1969 | $2,251 | 55.5% | 93.9% | 6.6% |
| North Billerica | 2.59 | 40.0 | 11.7% | 28.7% | 1.0% | 1982 | $2,125 | 40.9% | 92.1% | 5.7% |
| Tewksbury | 2.66 | 45.6 | 6.2% | 15.5% | 3.0% | 1978 | $2,093 | 40.3% | 92.9% | 3.3% |
| Tyngsboro | 2.98 | 38.7 | 10.4% | 13.6% | 4.5% | 1989 | $2,171 | 52.3% | 94.9% | 5.5% |
| Pelham | 2.91 | 40.4 | 9.1% | 13.2% | 3.1% | 1986 | $1,544 | 40.6% | 96.6% | 3.5% |
| Billerica | 2.65 | 44.4 | 8.7% | 21.8% | 1.8% | 1973 | $2,337 | 40.6% | 95.0% | 3.1% |
| Methuen | 2.56 | 35.3 | 7.6% | 46.7% | 4.3% | 2000 | $2,535 | 84.1% | 100.0% | 2.0% |
| Westford | 2.84 | 43.8 | 7.1% | 14.2% | 6.2% | 1979 | $2,806 | 73.9% | 97.7% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Spring, TX · Stamford, CT · St. Charles, MO · Redondo Beach, CA · Richmond, TX · Richmond, VA · Rochester Hills, MI · Renton, WA · Salinas, CA · Rock Hill, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lowell. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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