Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 16 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Orange
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($362,800 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $682/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,148)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $36,327/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)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $36,327 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$485k less
$362,800 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$36,327
$109,335 vs $73,008/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
58% lower
226.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 16 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 7 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($73,008 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Orange, CA are about 2,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.