Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($207,800 vs $362,800)
89% less violent crime than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 34°F
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,466)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $14,718/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $14,718 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
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
89% lower
56.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$155k less
$207,800 vs $362,800
Lakeland
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$14,718
$73,008 vs $58,290/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories. Lakeland wins 15 and Lowell wins 8. 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 Lakeland to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $362,800 median home), income ($58,290 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.