Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($362,800 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,627)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$2,368
$75,376 vs $73,008/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Lowell
Median Home Value
$55k less
$362,800 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 13 and Lowell wins 7. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $362,800 median home), income ($75,376 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.