Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($362,800 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,860)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $18,251/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Norwalk, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $18,251 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lowell
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Median Home Value
$230k less
$362,800 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$18,251
$91,259 vs $73,008/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
30% lower
374.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 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 | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $593,100 median home), income ($73,008 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.