Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 21 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
Palm Bay
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $10,470 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($226,200 vs $362,800)
35% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 34°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Rent averages $121/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,466)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $10,470/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$10,470
$73,008 vs $62,538/yr
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
35% lower
347.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$137k less
$226,200 vs $362,800
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 21 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Palm Bay wins 15. 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $226,200 median home), income ($73,008 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.