Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 16 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($362,800 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,861)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $24,871/yr
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)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Norwalk, CT
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $24,871 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$129k less
$362,800 vs $491,800
Norwalk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$24,871
$97,879 vs $73,008/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
84% lower
85.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 16 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 7 and Norwalk wins 16. 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 $491,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Norwalk, CT are about 152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.