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Lowell, Massachusetts is a historic mill city on the Merrimack River about forty minutes northwest of Boston, and it's home to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, whose campus spreads across both sides of the river and shapes much of the city's student life. Lowell built its name on nineteenth-century textile mills, and that legacy still defines the place, with the Lowell National Historical Park preserving canals, locks, and brick mill buildings downtown. The riverwalk and canal paths give the city green, walkable edges, and the restored downtown carries an arts-and-music streak that peaks each summer with the Lowell Folk Festival, one of the largest free folk festivals in the country.
On the north side of the river by the East and North campuses, Pawtucketville is the most popular area, full of houses and apartments within walking distance of class.
Downtown draws students who want the riverwalk, the historic mill district, and the arts and nightlife scene, with converted lofts above the old commercial blocks.
Just west of downtown, the Acre offers some of the more attainable finds and an easy bike ride to campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Lowell.
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority runs local bus routes connecting downtown, campus, and surrounding neighborhoods. UMass Lowell operates its own shuttle linking the East, North, and South campuses across the river, which is the workhorse for most students. The MBTA Commuter Rail runs from downtown Lowell straight into Boston's North Station, making day trips easy. Between the shuttle and the local buses, students near campus manage fine without a car.
Walking works well within downtown and the campus core, where most daily basics are close at hand. Biking is pleasant along the riverwalk and canal paths. Wider roads need some care, so stick to the calmer routes when you can. Students living near campus can handle errands and class on foot.
Lowell is more spread out than the Boston core, so a car helps for trips beyond campus and downtown. Driving is the practical choice if you live farther out from the university. Expect standard city parking around campus, with permits or lots in the denser areas. Many students near campus skip a car and rely on the shuttle and rail instead.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Lowell is far gentler on the wallet than Boston or Cambridge. A room in a shared house near campus often runs about $600 to $900 a month, while whole one-bedroom apartments commonly land between $1,500 and $2,000. Splitting a multi-bedroom house in Pawtucketville is the classic way students keep their share low.
Browse student housing near each Lowell-area university.