What are the schools like in Lowell, MA?

Lowell is served primarily by Lowell. The district operates 15 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lowell?

The median household income in Lowell, MA is $73,008 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Lowell, MA?

Lowell has an average high temperature of 34.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 59.0 inches.

Lowell, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lowell, MA affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lowell is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $362,800 and the median rent is $1,466 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lowell, MA?

Lowell has a violent crime rate of 532.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1662.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lowell, MA a Good Place to Live?

Lowell is a mid-sized city of 114,737 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $73,008 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Lowell stands out for solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lowell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lowell city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Lowell's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lowell costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lowell, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$362,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,466	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,008	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Lowell's violent crime rate is 532.5 per 100,000 residents — 40% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

532.5 /100k

Property Crime

1662.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lowell is served primarily by Lowell. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lowell, MA	National Avg
School District	Lowell	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lowell sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 48.5 inches of annual precipitation and 59.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lowell, MA
Average High — January	34.0°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	48.5"
Annual Snowfall	59.0"

Demographics

Metric	Lowell, MA	National Avg
Population	114,737	—
Median Age	34.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	54.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.8%	18.9%
Asian	22.6%	6.3%
Under 18	20.7%	22.2%
65 and over	11.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pinehurst, MA 9 mi Lawrence, MA 9 mi Andover, MA 9 mi Wilmington, MA 9 mi Methuen Town, MA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Lowell

Lowell, MA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

01852 01854 01851 01850 01824

Lowell vs Other Cities

Lowell, MA vs Pinehurst, MA Lowell, MA vs Lawrence, MA Lowell, MA vs Andover, MA Lowell, MA vs Wilmington, MA Lowell, MA vs Methuen Town, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lowell, MA affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lowell roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $362,800 and median rent is $1,466/month.

What is the crime rate in Lowell, MA?

Lowell's violent crime rate is 532.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1662.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lowell?

Public schools in Lowell are operated by Lowell. The district has 15 elementary, 7 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lowell, MA a good place to live?

Lowell, MA has a population of 114,737, a median household income of $73,008, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lowell?

Lowell averages 34.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.5 inches with about 59.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lowell?

Lowell, MA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 01852, 01854, 01851, 01850, 01824.

What is the population of Lowell?

The population of Lowell, Massachusetts is 114,737 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lowell?

Key numbers for living in Lowell: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $362,800, median household income $73,008, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lowell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.