Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Indio leads 13 of 23 categories
Indio
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Lowell
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,466)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Lowell by $4,572/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,572 more per year on average
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Indio
Violent Crime
37% lower
336.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$4,572
$73,008 vs $68,436/yr
Lowell
Median Home Value
$10k less
$362,800 vs $373,200
Lowell
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Indio is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indio leads 13 of 23 categories. Indio 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 Indio to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $362,800 median home), income ($68,436 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Lowell, MA are about 2,485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.