Living in & buying/selling in Lowell, MA
The mill city at full scale — where the Merrimack and Concord rivers meet, and where the Lowell Line begins.
Lowell, briefly
Lowell was built at the meeting of the Merrimack and Concord rivers as a planned mill town, and its canals still run through downtown. Today it is home to Lowell National Historical Park, UMass Lowell and the outer end of the MBTA Lowell Line, with I-495 and Route 3 linked by the Lowell Connector.
For buyers, that adds up to a city with real transit, a deep stock of multi-family homes and a wide range of housing from downtown lofts to single-families in the outer neighborhoods.
Lowell, this week
Live from public sources and refreshed every week. When a town has no separate series, the panel shows county figures and says so.
What the housing stock looks like
Lowell has triple-deckers and two-families throughout its older neighborhoods, Victorians on its hillside streets, and loft condominiums and apartments in converted mill buildings downtown. The outer neighborhoods add capes, ranches and colonials.
For house-hackers, Lowell is one of the main places in the region to buy a two- to four-family and live in one unit. Older buildings need a careful plan: heating, electrical, porches and egress, and lead paint — Massachusetts requires an owner to delead a unit when a child under six lives there.
Getting to and from Lowell
Check the MBTA and MassDOT or NHDOT for current schedules and roadwork.
- By train
Lowell station, at Gallagher Terminal, is the outer end of the MBTA Lowell Line, about 25 miles from Boston’s North Station.
- By car
I-495 and Route 3 both serve the city, joined by the Lowell Connector. Routes 38, 110 and 113 handle local trips.
- By bus
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) runs bus routes connecting Lowell with the surrounding towns.
Schools in Lowell
Lowell’s public schools are run by Lowell Public Schools. For school assignments, enrollment, language programs and registration, go straight to the district — it is the only source I point clients to.
I don't rank or rate schools; the district and the state are the sources to trust. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education publishes school and district profiles for every public district in the state.
A few things about Lowell
- Lowell National Historical Park
Established in the late 1970s, it includes about 5.6 miles of restored canals and the mill buildings that made Lowell.
- Two rivers
The city sits where the Concord River meets the Merrimack, near the mile-long rapids of Pawtucket Falls.
- UMass Lowell
The state university has its campuses in the city.
- Jack Kerouac
The writer was born in Lowell, in the Centralville neighborhood.
Answered plainly
Is there a train from Lowell to Boston?
Yes. Lowell station is the outer end of the MBTA Lowell Line, with service to North Station. Check the MBTA schedule for current times and parking.
Can I buy a two- or three-family in Lowell as my first home?
Yes. If you live in one unit, owner-occupied financing such as FHA can be used on two- to four-unit homes, and part of the rent can help you qualify. My first multi-family guide covers the numbers lenders look at.
What kinds of homes are in Lowell?
Triple-deckers and two-families, Victorians, loft condominiums in converted mills downtown, and capes, ranches and colonials in the outer neighborhoods.
How is the Lowell housing market right now?
The Market Pulse on this page refreshes every week from public sources: typical value, sale prices, days on market and mortgage rates. Those are area trends; for a specific street, I pull the recent comparable sales.
What is my home in Lowell worth?
Request a home value and I'll review the comparable sales and active competition near your address, then send you a written range. It's free and there's no obligation.
Do you work in Spanish?
Yes. I'm a bilingual REALTOR®, and the whole process — every document explained, the negotiation and the signings — can be in Spanish.
Thinking about a move in Lowell?
Tell me what you're planning — buying, selling or investing. I'll come back with real numbers for this town, in English or Spanish.
Call or text: (978) 390-9619 · Book a call
The Fermin Group at Century 21 North East · 130 Parker St, Suite 14, Lawrence, MA 01843