Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $16,204 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($362,800 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,981)
15% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $16,204/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
Boston
Median Income
$16,204
$89,212 vs $73,008/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Lowell
Violent Crime
15% lower
532.5 vs 627.9 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$322k less
$362,800 vs $684,900
Lowell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boston wins 11 and Lowell wins 11. 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 Boston to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $362,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lowell, MA are about 26 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.