Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 19 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($246,000 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,466)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lowell by $11,505/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $11,505 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$117k less
$246,000 vs $362,800
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$11,505
$73,008 vs $61,503/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
55% lower
532.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 19 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 19 and Lowell wins 4. 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 Albuquerque to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $362,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Lowell, MA are about 1,955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.