Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 18 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Midland
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ 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 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Median income trails Midland by $17,440/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $82k less ($280,700 vs $362,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $17,440 more per year on average
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$17,440
$90,448 vs $73,008/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
31% lower
364.9 vs 532.5 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$82k less
$280,700 vs $362,800
Midland
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 18 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 5 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $280,700 median home), income ($73,008 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Midland, TX are about 1,831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.