Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $13,958 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($362,800 vs $478,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,742)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $13,958/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$13,958
$86,966 vs $73,008/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
8% lower
489.7 vs 532.5 per 100k
Lowell
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Median Home Value
$116k less
$362,800 vs $478,400
Lowell
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Lowell
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 11 and Lowell wins 12. 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 Kent to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lowell, MA are about 2,463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.