What are the schools like in Lowell, MI?

Lowell is served primarily by Lowell Area Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.8:1.

What is the median household income in Lowell?

The median household income in Lowell, MI is $59,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Lowell, MI?

Lowell has an average high temperature of 31.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 65.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Lowell, MI affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lowell is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,700 and the median rent is $872 per month.

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

Lowell has a violent crime rate of 195.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 684.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lowell, MI a Good Place to Live?

Lowell is a small town of 4,127 in Michigan, with a median household income of $59,712 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Lowell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 95.2

Lowell's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lowell costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lowell, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$872	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lowell's violent crime rate is 195.6 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

195.6 /100k

Property Crime

684.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lowell is served primarily by Lowell Area Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lowell, MI	National Avg
School District	Lowell Area Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lowell sees average highs of 31.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation and 65.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lowell, MI
Average High — January	31.0°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	40.7"
Annual Snowfall	65.9"

Demographics

Metric	Lowell, MI	National Avg
Population	4,127	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Saranac, MI 7 mi Forest Hills, MI 7 mi Clarksville, MI 8 mi Cannonsburg, MI 10 mi Freeport, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Lowell

Lowell, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49331

Lowell vs Other Cities

Lowell, MI vs Saranac, MI Lowell, MI vs Forest Hills, MI Lowell, MI vs Clarksville, MI Lowell, MI vs Cannonsburg, MI Lowell, MI vs Freeport, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lowell, MI affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lowell roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $206,700 and median rent is $872/month.

What is the crime rate in Lowell, MI?

Lowell's violent crime rate is 195.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 684.8 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 Area Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lowell, MI a good place to live?

Lowell, MI has a population of 4,127, a median household income of $59,712, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. 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 31.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches with about 65.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lowell?

Lowell, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49331.

What is the population of Lowell?

The population of Lowell, Michigan is 4,127 with a median age of 38.3. 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 95 (100 = US average), median home $206,700, median household income $59,712, crime index 44 (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.