Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($159,300 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($976 vs $1,466)
48% less violent crime than Lowell
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $17,298/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $17,298 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°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
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
48% lower
278.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$204k less
$159,300 vs $362,800
El Paso
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$17,298
$73,008 vs $55,710/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Lowell wins 8. 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 El Paso to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $362,800 median home), income ($55,710 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Lowell, MA are about 2,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.