Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Massachusetts, Lowell is healthier than 13% of graded towns
Lowell differs from Massachusetts on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lowell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lowell
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Lowell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, but only 13% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Lowell scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Lowell’s B, from Dracut (A−) to Chelmsford (A+). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Lowell
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.1%), vs 12.4% across Massachusetts. No reliable transportation (12.4% vs 7.6%) and housing insecurity (17% vs 11.1%) are higher too. 23.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Lowell adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (27.7%), vs 23.4% across Massachusetts. Loneliness is above the state too: 39.2%, vs 34.2% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Lowell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
What’s behind Lowell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lowell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #244 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 91% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 25%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Lowell’s median household income is $78,658; among the 10,825 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
At 119,971 residents, Lowell is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Lowell and the towns around it
Lowell’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | B | 27.2% | 10.9% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Chelmsford | A+ | 23.6% | 8.7% | 9% | ZIP codes |
| Tewksbury | A | 25.3% | 9.2% | 11% | ZIP 01876 |
| Tyngsborough | A | 24.7% | 8.5% | 9.8% | ZIP 01879 |
| Dracut | A− | 26.3% | 9.3% | 12% | ZIP 01826 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.5% of Lowell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
How Lowell adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Lowell runs above Massachusetts.
2 in 5 Lowell adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 Lowell adults…
Lowell runs below MA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Lowell residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Lowell
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Lowell, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lowell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
19 miles of trails across 52 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lowell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lowell adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lowell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lowell is better than Massachusetts on 2 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Lowell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lowell | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21%19.1–22.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.8–14.3 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.9–20.2 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.2%23.8–30.8 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.8–12.2 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29%26.8–31.4 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.9–36.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22%20.3–23.9 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.8–13.1 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.3 | 3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%12.1–16.9 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.6–15.7 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.5%24.8–30.3 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%13.4–17 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%33.2–40.2 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%75.1–80 | 80.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.1%57.3–62.8 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%84.4–87.4 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.6%68.1–73.1 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%60.8–67.3 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%75.9–84.3 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%22.2–27 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%36–42.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%25–30.5 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%19–23.3 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%15.2–18.9 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%9–11.4 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%11.1–13.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.5%21.2–25.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%29–34.2 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.6–14.2 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%16.2–19.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.7–10.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Lowell
Is Lowell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lowell is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: B for health, #244 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lowell?
CDC estimates 27.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 30.8%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lowell?
Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Lowell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lowell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.3%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Lowell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lowell.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.