Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Durham leads 17 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Homes cost $46k less ($316,600 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,466)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Durham
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Durham
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$1,702
$74,710 vs $73,008/yr
Durham
Median Home Value
$46k less
$316,600 vs $362,800
Durham
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lowell
Violent Crime
14% lower
532.5 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 17 of 23 categories. Durham wins 17 and Lowell wins 6. 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 Durham to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $362,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Lowell, MA are about 613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.