Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Lowell leads 13 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,987 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($362,800 vs $709,700)
21% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,698)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Median income trails Long Beach by $5,987/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$5,987
$78,995 vs $73,008/yr
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Violent Crime
21% lower
532.5 vs 676.4 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$347k less
$362,800 vs $709,700
Lowell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lowell
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lowell leads 13 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 9 and Lowell wins 13. 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 Long Beach to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $362,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Lowell, MA are about 2,581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.