Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $40,171 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Lowell
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($362,800 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,983)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $40,171/yr
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$40,171
$113,179 vs $73,008/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
59% lower
219.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Home Value
$293k less
$362,800 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 16 and Lowell wins 7. 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 Alexandria to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $362,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Lowell, MA are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.