Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Odessa
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($193,500 vs $362,800)
41% less violent crime than Lowell
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,466)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$1,715
$73,008 vs $71,293/yr
Odessa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
41% lower
316.3 vs 532.5 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$169k less
$193,500 vs $362,800
Odessa
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Lowell wins 9 and Odessa 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($73,008 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Odessa, TX are about 1,848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.