Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($362,800 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,997)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
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 San Leandro by $24,133/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,133 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 85°F
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Violent Crime
3% lower
532.5 vs 548.7 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$410k less
$362,800 vs $772,700
Lowell
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$24,133
$97,141 vs $73,008/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 12 and San Leandro wins 11. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $772,700 median home), income ($73,008 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and San Leandro, CA are about 2,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.