Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Richardson
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $259/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Homes cost $17k less ($362,800 vs $379,800)
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richardson by $21,354/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $21,354 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$17k less
$362,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$21,354
$94,362 vs $73,008/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
72% lower
146.7 vs 532.5 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 18 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 5 and Richardson wins 18. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Richardson, TX are about 1,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.