Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($159,600 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $546/mo less ($920 vs $1,466)
49% less violent crime than Lowell
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $18,869/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $18,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Edinburg
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
49% lower
269.6 vs 532.5 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$203k less
$159,600 vs $362,800
Edinburg
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$18,869
$73,008 vs $54,139/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 14 and Lowell wins 9. 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 Edinburg to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $362,800 median home), income ($54,139 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Lowell, MA are about 1,886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.