Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Bridgeport leads 13 of 22 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($227,200 vs $362,800)
26% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,466)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $18,568/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $18,568 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
26% lower
392.9 vs 532.5 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$136k less
$227,200 vs $362,800
Lowell
Median Income
$18,568
$73,008 vs $54,440/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 13 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 13 and Lowell wins 9. 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 Bridgeport to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $362,800 median home), income ($54,440 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Lowell, MA are about 139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.