Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Garland leads 15 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ 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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($229,000 vs $362,800)
56% less violent crime than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
56% lower
232.7 vs 532.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$134k less
$229,000 vs $362,800
Garland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$1,964
$73,008 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Garland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 15 of 23 categories. Garland 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 Garland to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $362,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Lowell, MA are about 1,529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.