Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 San Diego 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
San Diego
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($362,800 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $614/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,080)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $25,649/yr
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)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,649 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Lowell
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$421k less
$362,800 vs $783,300
Lowell
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 79.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
San Diego
Median Income
$25,649
$98,657 vs $73,008/yr
San Diego
Violent Crime
23% lower
412.2 vs 532.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Diego is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Diego leads 16 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 7 and San Diego 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 San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $783,300 median home), income ($73,008 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and San Diego, CA are about 2,561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.