Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $16,682 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($158,700 vs $362,800)
72% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $511/mo less ($955 vs $1,466)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $16,682/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$16,682
$73,008 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
72% lower
150.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$204k less
$158,700 vs $362,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 5 and McAllen wins 18. 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 Lowell to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($73,008 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and McAllen, TX are about 1,894 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.