Lowell, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 118,368 Household income: $78,658 Rent: $1,625

Overview

Total population

118,368

Rent

$1,625

Year built

1953

Household income

$78,658

Per capita income

$36,400

Poverty rate

16.9%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

118,368

Adults over 25

78,630

Total households

43,183

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$78,658

Per capita income

$36,400

Poverty rate

16.9%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

50.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,625

Year built

1953

Households that rent

56.8%

Households that own

43.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

46.7%

Black

10.3%

Asian

22.2%

Two or more races

11.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20%

Not Hispanic or Latino

80%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

89.4%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

10.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.8%

High school graduate or GED

31%

Some college or associate degree

10.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lowell, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Lowell, MA

Total population118,368

Rent$1,625

Year built1953

Household income$78,658

Per capita income$36,400

Poverty rate16.9%

Unemployment rate4.6%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLowell, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	118,368	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$1,625	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1953	1964	1980
Household income	$78,658	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,400	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.9%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lowell, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Lowell, MA

Lowell is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Lowell, the typical monthly rent is $1,625 and the typical household income is $78,658. Rent here is lower than Massachusetts and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than Massachusetts and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 16.9%, which is higher than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 56.8% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 50.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is higher than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Lowell, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Lowell, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lowell, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,625	7 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$78,658	16 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	16.9%	17 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	16 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Lowell, MA

Rent

Rent prices put Lowell in 7th place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

For household income, Lowell ranks 16th out of 23 large places. Across Massachusetts, incomes range from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Lowell ranks 17th out of 23 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Lowell ranks 16th out of 23 large places. Across Massachusetts, unemployment ranges from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Lowell, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,625 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lowell, MA

Annual Household Income: $78,658

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lowell, MA

Estimated Rate: 16.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lowell, MA

In Lowell, MA, households that rent: 24,514 (56.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	24,514	56.8%
Owner-Occupied	18,669	43.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lowell, MA

In Lowell, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 12,457 (50.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	12,457	50.8%
Other renter households	12,057	49.2%
Total renter households	24,514	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lowell, MA

Less than High School: 22,620 people (28.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 24,348 people (31%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,104 people (10.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23,558 people (30%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 78,630

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lowell, MA

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Billings, MT118,321 Richardson, TX118,269 Wilmington, NC118,578 Cambridge, MA117,794 North Charleston, SC117,460 West Palm Beach, FL119,508 Clearwater, FL117,075 Lakeland, FL117,030 Hartford, CT119,970 Fairfield, CA119,985

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.