Merrimack Valley · Town guide
Living in Lowell, MA.
A historic mill city on the Merrimack with UMass Lowell, a commuter rail station, and one of the lowest single-family medians among the towns I cover.
Lowell at a glance
- Median single-family
- $544,000
- ▲ 3.4% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $345,000
- ▲ 3.0% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 33
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 101.7%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $11.35
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 120,418
- 2024 Census estimate, +4.2% since 2020
- To Boston
- 23 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Commuter rail
Lowell market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $544,000 | $345,000 |
| Change vs. last year | ▲ 3.4% | ▲ 3.0% |
| Sales closed | 201 | 175 |
| Median days on market | 33 | 58 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 101.7% | 97.9% |
| For sale at month end | 74 | 45 |
| Months of supply | 2.7 | 2.0 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Lowell Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Lowell compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | $544,000 ▲ 3.4% | $345,000 | 33 | $11.35 |
| Dracut | $599,900 ▲ 2.2% | $392,000 | 28 | $9.67 |
| Chelmsford | $740,000 ▲ 1.4% | $453,850 | 32 | $13.27 |
| Tewksbury | $760,000 ▲ 2.4% | $528,500 | 30 | $12.56 |
| Billerica | $712,500 ▼ 1.7% | $492,000 | 39 | $11.61 |
| Methuen | $600,000 ▼ 3.2% | $418,000 | 33 | $10.40 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Lowell.
What is it like to live in Lowell?
Lowell was one of America's first planned industrial cities, and its mill buildings and canals are now part of Lowell National Historical Park. Downtown has converted mills, restaurants, and UMass Lowell nearby.
It's a large, diverse city with a deep supply of multifamily housing and prices below most of the region.
What are Lowell's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Converted mills, lofts, and the national historical park | City living and condos |
| Belvidere | Residential neighborhood with larger older homes | Character homes near downtown |
| Highlands | Large residential neighborhood with a mix of housing | Single-families and multifamilies |
| Pawtucketville | Near UMass Lowell's north campus | Proximity to the university |
| Centralville & the Acre | Dense neighborhoods with many multifamilies | Investment and house-hack options |
What does housing look like in Lowell?
Lowell has many two- and three-families, loft condos in converted mills, and single-families in neighborhoods like Belvidere and the Highlands. Condo complexes and townhouses are common across the city.
How is the commute from Lowell to Boston?
Lowell has a commuter rail station on the Lowell Line into North Station. I-495, Route 3, and the Lowell Connector serve drivers.
Where do people spend time in Lowell?
- Lowell National Historical Park and the canals
- Downtown's restaurants and mill buildings
- The Merrimack River path
What should buyers and sellers know about Lowell?
- Lowell is block by block; compare within the neighborhood.
- Older multifamilies need thorough inspections.
- Lead paint rules matter for rentals when children under six live in a unit.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Lowell Public Schools).
Questions people actually ask.
Does Lowell have a train to Boston?
Yes. Lowell has a commuter rail station on the Lowell Line into North Station.
Is Lowell good for multifamily investing?
It has a large supply of two- and three-families and steady rental demand. Each property still has to work on realistic numbers.
MBTA stations in Lowell
- Commuter rail: Lowell (Lowell Line)
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Lowell home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Lowell's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Lowell
Three ways to start.
Buy in Lowell
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Lowell
A price grounded in Lowell sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Lowell
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Lowell.
What is the median home price in Lowell, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Lowell was $544,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $526,250 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $345,000. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Lowell?
Single-family homes that sold in Lowell during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 33 days on market and sold for 101.7% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Lowell, MA?
Lowell's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $11.35 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $6,170 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Lowell to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Lowell: commuter rail: Lowell (Lowell Line). Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
MLS listings
Lowell homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Lowell, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Lowell search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Lowell?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Lowell specifically.
More Merrimack Valley towns
- Haverhill
- Lawrence
- Methuen
- Andover
- North Andover
- Dracut
- Chelmsford
- Tewksbury
- Billerica
- Groveland
- Amesbury
- Newburyport
- All towns
Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.