Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Arlington leads 17 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($251,300 vs $362,800)
9% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,466)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
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 rents — median is $1,466/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
9% lower
482.9 vs 532.5 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$112k less
$251,300 vs $362,800
Arlington
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$1,272
$73,008 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 17 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 17 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 Arlington to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $362,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Lowell, MA are about 1,561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.