Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Evansville leads 14 of 22 categories
Evansville
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($121,100 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $549/mo less ($917 vs $1,466)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 34°F
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $23,155/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $23,155 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 22% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$242k less
$121,100 vs $362,800
Evansville
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$23,155
$73,008 vs $49,853/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
56% lower
532.5 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Evansville leads 14 of 22 categories. Evansville wins 14 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 Evansville to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $362,800 median home), income ($49,853 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Lowell, MA are about 911 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.