Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greeley, CO
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Greeley leads 13 of 23 categories
Greeley
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
107,949
Lowell
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greeley, CO
Pros
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,208 vs $1,466)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 34°F
Homes cost $16k less ($346,400 vs $362,800)
Cons
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lowell by $7,483/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Greeley
Households earn $7,483 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Greeley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Greeley
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Median Home Value
$16k less
$346,400 vs $362,800
Greeley
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$7,483
$73,008 vs $65,525/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
21% lower
532.5 vs 670.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greeley, CO | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,208 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,525 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 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 | 177⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.8% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.9" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,949 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greeley's cost of living index is 96.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greeley leads 13 of 23 categories. Greeley wins 13 and Lowell wins 10. 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 Greeley to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($346,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($65,525 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greeley, CO and Lowell, MA are about 1,726 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.