Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($158,500 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,466)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $19,584/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,584 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fayetteville
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$204k less
$158,500 vs $362,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$19,584
$73,008 vs $53,424/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
19% lower
532.5 vs 660.2 per 100k
Lowell
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $362,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Lowell, MA are about 664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.