Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 21 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Overland Park
Kansas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $27,868/yr
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Overland Park
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $27,868 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$27,868
$100,876 vs $73,008/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
65% lower
184.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 21 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 2 and Overland Park wins 21. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Overland Park, KS are about 1,246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.