Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Santa Ana, 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
Population
114,737
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($362,800 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,885)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Ana by $11,202/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
Households earn $11,202 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Median Home Value
$261k less
$362,800 vs $624,000
Santa Ana
Median Income
$11,202
$84,210 vs $73,008/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
7% lower
493.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 12 and Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $624,000 median home), income ($73,008 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.