Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Irving leads 17 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $103k less ($259,500 vs $362,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$3,678
$76,686 vs $73,008/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
48% lower
275.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$103k less
$259,500 vs $362,800
Irving
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, 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 | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 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 | 85 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Irving is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 17 of 23 categories. Irving wins 17 and Lowell wins 6. 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 Irving to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $362,800 median home), income ($76,686 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Lowell, MA are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.