Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 18 of 22 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($362,800 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $598/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,064)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $26,405/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)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $26,405 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$366k less
$362,800 vs $728,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
San Marcos
Median Income
$26,405
$99,413 vs $73,008/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
58% lower
222.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | San Marcos, 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 | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 18 of 22 categories. Lowell wins 4 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $728,800 median home), income ($73,008 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and San Marcos, CA are about 2,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.