Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $19k less ($362,800 vs $381,800)
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)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Modesto
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Violent Crime
19% lower
532.5 vs 655.7 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$19k less
$362,800 vs $381,800
Lowell
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 11 and Modesto wins 12. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $381,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Modesto, CA are about 2,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.