Lowell, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Lowell Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Lowell Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lowell | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $78,628 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,269 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.6% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.3% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.3% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lowell is about 25% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Lowell (6.6%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Lowell earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lowell, Massachusetts grew by 57.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $78,628 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lowell
| Metric | Lowell | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,919 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,454 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.9% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lowell, it is 0.548, higher than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Lowell, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $401,275 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lowell, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 21% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 11% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,777 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lowell | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.6% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 3,658 people are unemployed in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Lowell is 26 minutes, longer than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lowell, Massachusetts has fallen from 9.6% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2023.
Lowell, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Lowell, MA is the largest of the 4 cities compared here, 118,320 residents against a local median of 53,422. Lowell, MA's median household income, at $78,628, runs 30% below the $111,921 typical of the cities around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread $105,735 on median household income, so Lowell, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lowell, MA has the 3rd highest median household income of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, MA | 118,320 | $78,628 #3/4 | 6.6%/yr #1/4 | 5.7% #2/4 | 0.548 #4/4 |
| Methuen, MA | 53,422 | $111,921 | 5.6%/yr | 5.8% | 0.509 |
| Lawrence, MA | 88,771 | $60,489 | 6.5%/yr | 8.5% | 0.536 |
| Wilmington, MA | 23,238 | $166,224 | 6.1%/yr | 4.8% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lowell, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Massachusetts, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lowell, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Lowell, Massachusetts?
Lowell has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $78,628, about 25% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Lowell, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lowell, Massachusetts rose 58%, from $49,880 to $78,628. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +58% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Lowell in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lowell, Massachusetts was $76,509, up 5% from $73,005 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Lowell in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lowell, Massachusetts was $62,630. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $78,628.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lowell, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Lowell is 0.548. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lowell, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lowell, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 21% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 11% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,777 since 2009.
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