Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Kansas City leads 18 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($208,900 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,466)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lowell by $7,752/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $7,752 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$154k less
$208,900 vs $362,800
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$7,752
$73,008 vs $65,256/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
66% lower
532.5 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 18 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 18 and Lowell wins 5. 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 Kansas City to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $362,800 median home), income ($65,256 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Lowell, MA are about 1,234 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.