Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Metairie
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Metairie
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Metairie, LA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,466)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Homes cost $73k less ($289,800 vs $362,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 34°F
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$938
$73,008 vs $72,070/yr
Metairie
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
27% lower
390.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$73k less
$289,800 vs $362,800
Metairie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Metairie wins 17. 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $289,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Metairie, LA are about 1,360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.