Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 17 of 23 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
Richmond
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $13,402 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,466)
Homes cost $55k less ($308,300 vs $362,800)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $13,402/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$13,402
$73,008 vs $59,606/yr
Richmond
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
37% lower
336.9 vs 532.5 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$55k less
$308,300 vs $362,800
Richmond
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Richmond wins 17. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $308,300 median home), income ($73,008 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Richmond, VA are about 480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.