Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 16 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Median income trails Riverview by $14,375/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Riverview, FL
Pros
75% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $70k less ($292,700 vs $362,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 34°F
Households earn $14,375 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverview
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Riverview
Median Income
$14,375
$87,383 vs $73,008/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
75% lower
131.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Riverview
Median Home Value
$70k less
$292,700 vs $362,800
Riverview
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $292,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Riverview is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 16 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 7 and Riverview wins 16. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $292,700 median home), income ($73,008 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Riverview, FL are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.