Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Clearwater leads 18 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
26% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $75k less ($287,900 vs $362,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $13,650/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $13,650 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
26% lower
395.5 vs 532.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$75k less
$287,900 vs $362,800
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$13,650
$73,008 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 18 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 18 and Lowell wins 5. 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 Clearwater to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $362,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.