Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Cincinnati leads 14 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($192,000 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($893 vs $1,466)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $23,817/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $23,817 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$171k less
$192,000 vs $362,800
Lowell
Median Income
$23,817
$73,008 vs $49,191/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
37% lower
532.5 vs 845.6 per 100k
Lowell
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 14 of 22 categories. Cincinnati wins 14 and Lowell wins 8. 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 Cincinnati to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $362,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Lowell, MA are about 729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.