Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
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.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,530 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($362,800 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,958)
11% less violent crime than Anaheim
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Anaheim by $15,530/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$15,530
$88,538 vs $73,008/yr
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Violent Crime
11% lower
532.5 vs 596.2 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$351k less
$362,800 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 11 and Lowell wins 12. 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 Anaheim to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $362,800 median home), income ($88,538 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Lowell, MA are about 2,558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.