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Lowell

Massachusettscity

Photograph of Lowell
Featured view

Lowell

Total population

120,418

Median home value

$468,700

26.2%

Bachelor's+

Median income

$82,956

Lowell$83k
National$74k

Founded

1653

Elevation31 m
Land area37.63 km²
Weather45°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
Coordinates42.64°, -71.32°

Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.

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City facts

Founded
1653
Elevation
31 m
Area
37.63 km²
Time zone
Eastern Time Zone
head of government
Daniel P. Rourke
Official website
www.lowellma.gov

Sister cities

Facts from Wikidata (CC0).

Overview

Lowell is a city in Massachusetts, United States. Alongside Cambridge, it is one of the two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of the last census, and the third most populous in the Boston metropolitan statistical area. The city is also part of a smaller Massachusetts statistical area, called Greater Lowell, and of New England's Merrimack Valley region.

Read more on Wikipedia

History & geography

Demographics & economy

Median age
35.7
Median home value
$468,700
Housing units
44,643
Poverty rate
17.4%
Unemployment
5.5%

Race & ethnicity

White
45.4%
Black
8.7%
Asian
17.8%
Hispanic
24.6%

Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

Geography

Latitude
42.6390
Longitude
-71.3210
Water area
0.92 mi²
View on OpenStreetMap

Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.

Climate

Avg high
60.2°F
Avg low
43.1°F
Annual precipitation
47.3 in

10-year averages from ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo).

Current forecast

Overnight
45°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Monday
63°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Monday Night
45°F
Mostly Clear
Tuesday
74°F
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday Night
50°F
Partly Cloudy
Wednesday
76°F
Mostly Sunny

Forecast for Lowell, MA from NOAA NWS API.

Air quality

Industrial & pollution facilities

Natural hazard risk

Health (adults)

High blood pressure
29.8%
Diabetes
11.2%
Adult obesity
27.7%
Binge drinking
14.8%
Adult smoking
14.6%
No leisure activity
27.9%

Age-adjusted prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES (latest release).

Walkability

Amenities nearby

Wildlife & biodiversity

Schools

Total
85
Elementary
48
Middle
18
High
15
Other
4

Largest nearby schools

  • Lowell High
    High · Lowell · 3,167 students · 13.7:1 ratio
  • Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical
    High · Tyngsborough · 2,302 students · 10.8:1 ratio
  • Billerica Memorial High School
    High · Billerica · 1,726 students · 13.5:1 ratio
  • Westford Academy
    High · Westford · 1,525 students · 13.5:1 ratio
  • Chelmsford High
    High · North Chelmsford · 1,367 students · 13.7:1 ratio
  • Shawsheen Valley Vocational Technical High School
    High · Billerica · 1,292 students · 10:1 ratio
  • Collegiate Charter School of Lowell
    Other · Lowell · 1,203 students · 21.9:1 ratio
  • Justus C. Richardson Middle School
    Middle · Dracut · 848 students · 14.6:1 ratio

Public K–12 schools within ~10 mi from Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES Common Core of Data, 2022).

Earthquake history

Photos

Sights & places nearby

Notable people from here

James Mitchell Varnum
James Mitchell Varnum
American judge
Paul Miller
Paul Miller
American professional ice hockey forward
Onslow Stearns
Onslow Stearns
American politician (1810-1878)
Brad Gowans
Brad Gowans
American musician (1903–1954)
Wendell Corey
Wendell Corey
American actor (1914–1968)
J
Joseph Richardson
American politician (1778-1871)
H
Harry M. Woods
American songwriter (1896–1970)
J
John Varnum
American politician (1778-1836)
Joseph Bradley Varnum
Joseph Bradley Varnum
American politician (1751-1821)
S
Samantha Lord
B
Brett Maron
American soccer player
J
Jim Todd
American basketball player and coach
M
Mike Mastrullo
American and Italian ice hockey player (1957-)
A
Asa Pollard
American soldier
B
Blaise MacDonald
College ice hockey coach
C
Charles A. Stott
American politician

People born within ~10 km, from Wikidata (CC0). Click any name for their Wikipedia article.

Nearby places in Massachusetts

Browse all places in Massachusetts →

Geography & sun

Avg solar (kWh/m²/day)
3.81
Annual solar (kWh/m²)
1,392

Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.

Nearby airports

Public attention

Wikipedia views (last 30 days)
10,873
Avg daily Wikipedia views
362
Attention level
Modest

Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.

Books about Lowell

American Diaries; Zellie Blake
American Diaries; Zellie Blake
Kathleen Duey · 2002
So Far From Home
So Far From Home
Barry Denenberg · 1997
Women at work
Women at work
Thomas Dublin · 1975
Mill and mansion
Mill and mansion
John Coolidge · 1942
Lowell, Massachusetts
Urban Land Institute · 2004
Public building at Lowell, Massachusetts
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds · 1888
Legendary locals of Lowell, Massachusetts
Richard P. Howe · 2013
Water power in Lowell, Massachusetts
Patrick M. Malone · 1974

Search results from Open Library.

Recent natural events nearby

Ground air-quality sensors

Recently spotted species

Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Seen 2026-05-31
American Toad
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
Seen 2026-05-31
American Dog Tick
American Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
Seen 2026-05-31
Pale Beauty
Pale Beauty
Campaea perlata
Seen 2026-05-31
Ringed Boghaunter
Ringed Boghaunter
Williamsonia lintneri
Seen 2026-05-31
Racket-tailed Emerald
Racket-tailed Emerald
Dorocordulia libera
Seen 2026-05-31
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Setophaga discolor
Seen 2026-05-31
Hobomok Skipper
Hobomok Skipper
Lon hobomok
Seen 2026-05-31
Christmas fern
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Seen 2026-05-31

Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).

Nearest stream gauge

Site
CONCORD R BELOW R MEADOW BROOK, AT LOWELL, MA
Distance
1 mi
Streamflow
308 cfs
Gage height
4.71 ft

Live readings from USGS NWIS · measured 2026-06-01 02:30 UTC.

Events

Gallery

Geotagged photos within ~6 miles of Lowell, from Wikimedia Commons contributors.

Branch Street fire station; south (front) and east sides; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miBranch Street fire station; west and south (front) sides; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miClemente Park; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miClose view of Branch Street fire station; south (front) side; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miDedication plaque for Branch Street fire station; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miBoys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miLooking east along Branch Street onto Middlesex Street; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miLowell Fire Department Deputy Chief truck; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miLower Highlands precinct police station; south and east sides; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miLower Highlands precinct police station; west and south sides; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miPailin Plaza; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.1 miJaap Blonk Lowell — Lowell, United States0.1 miRace and ethnicity 2020 Lowell, MA — Lowell, United States0.1 miArmory Park; viewed from north; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miArmory Park; viewed from northwest; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miDedication monument for Armory Park; detailed view; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miDedication monument for Armory Park; whole view; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miFar north lawn of School Street Cemetery; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miFar south lawn of School Street Cemetery; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miGrave of two infants at School Street Cemetery; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miGraves along north wall of School Street Cemetery; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miLawrence fire truck driving east on Branch Street; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miLooking north on School Street near Middlesex Street; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 miLowell Police Fleet Services Sign Division building; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08 — Lowell, United States0.2 mi

Photos via Wikimedia Commons — see each image page for license & attribution.

Sources

  • • Wikipedia
  • • US Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates)
  • • Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis)
  • • NOAA National Weather Service
  • • Wikimedia Commons
  • • Wikidata
  • • USGS NWIS (water data)
  • • NCES via Urban Institute Education Data Portal
  • • iNaturalist
  • • CDC PLACES
  • • Open-Meteo / sunrise-sunset.org
  • • Wikipedia Pageviews API
  • • Open Library
  • • Wikidata SPARQL (CC0) — population, area, elevation, inception, head of government, Commons image