Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 18 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
St. Louis
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
61% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $20,067 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($174,100 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($938 vs $1,466)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 34°F
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $20,067/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Income
$20,067
$73,008 vs $52,941/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
61% lower
532.5 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$189k less
$174,100 vs $362,800
St. Louis
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 44.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 18 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 5 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($73,008 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.