Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Boise City leads 20 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
3
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
45% less violent crime than Lowell
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,466)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($362,800 vs $401,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Boise City
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$3,394
$76,402 vs $73,008/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
45% lower
293.8 vs 532.5 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Home Value
$39k less
$362,800 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 20 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 20 and Lowell wins 3. 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 Boise City to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $362,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Lowell, MA are about 2,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.