Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Denton leads 18 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ 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.
Denton, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $67k less ($296,100 vs $362,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,466)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
62% lower
204.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$67k less
$296,100 vs $362,800
Denton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$1,087
$73,008 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Denton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 18 of 23 categories. Denton 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 Denton to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $362,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Lowell, MA are about 1,542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.