Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Alafaya leads 14 of 20 categories
Alafaya
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,243 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,768)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Alafaya by $20,243/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$20,243
$93,251 vs $73,008/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 14 of 20 categories. Alafaya wins 14 and Lowell wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $362,800 median home), income ($93,251 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.