Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Omaha
Nebraska
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,806 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($210,300 vs $362,800)
31% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,466)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lowell by $2,806/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$2,806
$73,008 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
31% lower
369.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$153k less
$210,300 vs $362,800
Omaha
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Omaha wins 17. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $210,300 median home), income ($73,008 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Omaha, NE are about 1,270 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.