Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Denver leads 16 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,845 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($362,800 vs $540,400)
46% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,665)
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
Median income trails Denver by $12,845/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$12,845
$85,853 vs $73,008/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Violent Crime
46% lower
532.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$178k less
$362,800 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Denver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 16 of 23 categories. Denver wins 16 and Lowell wins 7. 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 Denver to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Lowell, MA are about 1,744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.