Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($362,800 vs $423,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
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 Sparks by $9,930/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
26% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $9,930 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$61k less
$362,800 vs $423,500
Sparks
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$9,930
$82,938 vs $73,008/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
26% lower
394.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 9 and Sparks wins 14. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($73,008 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Sparks, NV are about 2,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.