What are the schools like in Lowell, NC?

Lowell is served primarily by Gaston County Schools. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 13 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Lowell?

The median household income in Lowell, NC is $55,481 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Lowell, NC?

Lowell has an average high temperature of 52.7°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Lowell, NC affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lowell is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $153,300 and the median rent is $1,031 per month.

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

Lowell has a violent crime rate of 130.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1458.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lowell, NC a Good Place to Live?

Lowell is a small town of 3,692 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $55,481 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Lowell stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 97.0

Lowell's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lowell costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lowell, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$153,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,031	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,481	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lowell's violent crime rate is 130.2 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.2 /100k

Property Crime

1458.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lowell is served primarily by Gaston County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lowell, NC	National Avg
School District	Gaston County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	13	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lowell sees average highs of 52.7°F in January and 90.7°F in July, with 45.2 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lowell, NC
Average High — January	52.7°F
Average High — July	90.7°F
Annual Precipitation	45.2"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Lowell, NC	National Avg
Population	3,692	—
Median Age	38.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.7%	22.2%
65 and over	14.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

McAdenville, NC 2 mi Ranlo, NC 2 mi Spencer Mountain, NC 2 mi Springdale, NC 2 mi Cramerton, NC 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Lowell

Lowell, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28098

Lowell vs Other Cities

Lowell, NC vs McAdenville, NC Lowell, NC vs Ranlo, NC Lowell, NC vs Spencer Mountain, NC Lowell, NC vs Springdale, NC Lowell, NC vs Cramerton, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lowell, NC affordable or expensive?

Lowell's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lowell roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $153,300 and median rent is $1,031/month.

What is the crime rate in Lowell, NC?

Lowell's violent crime rate is 130.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1458.7 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 Gaston County Schools. The district has 30 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lowell, NC a good place to live?

Lowell, NC has a population of 3,692, a median household income of $55,481, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 52.7°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.2 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lowell?

Lowell, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28098.

What is the population of Lowell?

The population of Lowell, North Carolina is 3,692 with a median age of 38.7. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $153,300, median household income $55,481, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.