Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 15 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Portland
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($362,800 vs $523,100)
26% less violent crime than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $12,868/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,868 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Violent Crime
26% lower
532.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$160k less
$362,800 vs $523,100
Lowell
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$12,868
$85,876 vs $73,008/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 15 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 8 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($73,008 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Portland, OR are about 2,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.